Kamala Harris Passes on California Governor Run: Why the Former VP Said No to Sacramento

Despite pressure from donors and a clear path to victory, Kamala Harris is sitting out California’s 2026 governor’s race—here’s why. Former Vice President Kamala Harris has officially opted not to run for California governor in 2026, ending months of speculation and behind-the-scenes maneuvering among state Democrats. While her political team believed she could mount a winning campaign, Harris ultimately prioritized personal clarity over political momentum.

“She had reasonable doubt,” said one longtime adviser familiar with the decision-making process. “And she listened to that.”

Kamala Harris’ choice comes despite considerable encouragement from national Democratic figures who saw her candidacy as a way to avoid a messy intra-party battle in deep-blue California. Her star power and fundraising ability could have cleared the field. However, the enthusiasm wasn’t universal. Some party insiders remained wary after her truncated 2020 presidential campaign, not eager to revisit memories of her sudden departure from that race.

“She’s still beloved by many,” one California strategist noted, “but that presidential campaign left a mark. Fair or not, it lingers.”

Kamala Harris herself had eyed the governorship years ago, before choosing a Senate run instead. But according to people close to her, she wasn’t convinced the role would align with her current ambitions or lifestyle. Sacramento’s grind—legislative infighting, long budget sessions, and geographical distance from her Los Angeles base—did not hold much appeal.

Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, a longtime ally, met with Kamala Harris in June and urged her to make a choice rooted in self-determination. “As a woman, I know what it’s like to feel pressured into roles that don’t necessarily feel right,” she said. “I told her to lean into her own agency.”

Kamala Harris, visibly moved, reportedly thanked Kamlager-Dove with her hand on her heart—a gesture that several confidantes described as a turning point in her thinking.

My statement on the California governor’s race and the fight ahead. pic.twitter.com/HYzK1BIlhD

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 30, 2025

A trip to the English countryside last week further clarified her path. Attending the wedding of Eve Jobs—daughter of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and longtime Kamala Harris friend Laurene Powell Jobs—allowed her to reconnect with old San Francisco-era friends and take a step outside the political frenzy. It was, insiders say, the kind of emotional recalibration she needed.

Upon returning,Kamala Harris quietly informed California Governor Gavin Newsom and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, a declared gubernatorial candidate who had indicated she would step aside if Harris entered the race. According to aides, Kamala Harris seemed upbeat and visibly relieved once the decision was finalized.

Notably, Kamala Harris hasn’t closed the door on future ambitions. Allies suggest a 2028 presidential run remains very much in play, though it wasn’t a decisive factor in this particular moment.

“She’s not done,” a senior Democratic aide said. “She’s just being selective. And strategic.”

For now, Kamala Harris is bowing out of Sacramento. But don’t mistake that for stepping away from the spotlight.