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Former Vice President Kamala Harris announced July 30 she will not run for California governor in 2026, ending months of speculation about her political future.
In a statement posted on X, Harris said after “deep reflection” over the past six months, she has decided not to seek elected office “for now.”
“I have given serious thought to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their Governor,” she wrote. “I love this state, its people, and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for Governor in this election.”
Harris also criticized what she described as government shortcomings. She urged Americans to embrace “new methods and fresh thinking” that are “not bound by the same playbook” to drive change.
“[W]e must recognize that our politics, our government, and our institutions have too often failed the American people,” Harris wrote, adding that we are “in a moment of crisis.”
Her announcement immediately reignited speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run. POLITICO reported that Harris is keeping the door open for another White House bid, while users commenting on her X post and other media outlets echoed the same theory.
Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti — all Democrats — have already entered the race to succeed California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
