Like many residents of Los Angeles, Kamala Harris has been fixated on the crisis gripping her city, toggling between local TV coverage and news alerts on her phone. But unlike most Angelenos, the former vice president is also making calls to California’s top leaders — Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom — as she quietly weighs her political future.
The former VP, once seen as the heir apparent to Democratic leadership, is now at a crossroads. Harris is considering a return to the national stage, possibly with another White House run or a bid to become California’s next governor. This period of political limbo now overlaps with the state’s latest turmoil, drawing her closer into the spotlight.
Although she’s remained publicly cautious since leaving office, Harris’s recent social media post condemning Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard as a “dangerous escalation” quickly stirred speculation about her next move. It also sparked a false online rumor — complete with typos — suggesting she’d ruled out a gubernatorial run, briefly confusing political circles.
According to those close to her, Harris’s criticism of Trump was rooted in both personal conviction and political awareness. A native Californian and former prosecutor, she has long emphasized the rule of law while also identifying with civil rights movements — from the protests of her youth to anti-apartheid activism in college. Her experience as vice president gives her insight into how presidential decisions shape moments of unrest, making her comments on Trump’s actions both pointed and personal.
Despite the political swirl, sources say Harris remains on track with her original timeline and won’t make a final decision until late summer. Her allies argue that if she does run for governor, Trump’s attacks on California only bolster her candidacy — portraying her as the state’s fiercest and most experienced defender.
“If she was worried that her becoming governor might put a bigger target on California,” said one supporter, “the last week took that question off the table.”
