Kamala Harris Reveals Why She's Not Running for California Governor
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris revealed why she is not running for California governor in a preview clip that dropped ahead of her full interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Thursday.
Newsweek reached out to Harris' office via email for additional comment.
Why It Matters
Harris has notably been out of the public spotlight since losing the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump in November.
Speculation mounted that Harris may throw her name into the race for California governor for the 2026 election. Early polling, however, also shows the former vice president as a strong contender for the Democratic primary in the 2028 presidential election, along with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, California Governor Gavin Newsom, New York U.S. Representative Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the State of the People POWER Tour opening ceremony on June 6 in Los Angeles. (Photo by)
Former Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the State of the People POWER Tour opening ceremony on June 6 in Los Angeles. (Photo by)
What To Know
In the clip, Colbert asks if Harris is not running for governor in order to run for another office. Harris responded "no, no," amid a roar from the audience.
"Listen, I am a devout public servant. I have spent my entire career in service of the people. And, I thought a lot about running for governor, I love my state. I love California. I've served as just elected district attorney, attorney general and senator, but to be very candid with you, you know ... when I was young in my career, I had to defend my decision to become a prosecutor with my family," Harris said.
"One of the points that I made is, why is it then when we think we want to improve a system or change it that we're always on the outside on bended knee or trying to break down the door? Shouldn't we also be inside the system? And that has been my career," Harris said. "Recently, I made the decision that I, just for now, I don't want to go back in the system. I think it's broken."
Harris later added that she has believed that "as fragile as our democracy is," those systems in the United States "would be strong enough to defend our most fundamental principles." Harris said that she thinks "right now ... they're not as strong as they need to be."
The former vice president is now interested in traveling the country to listen and talk with people and for it not to be "transactional."
Colbert noted that it was "harrowing" to hear her say that the systems are broken, while Harris replied that she will always "be a part of the fight."
Vice President Kamala Harris offers a candid reflection on her decision not to seek office, citing the deep dysfunction within our current systems.#Colbert #KamalaHarris.
This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
7 minutes ago
- New York Post
Hillary Clinton admits she would nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize if he helps end war in Ukraine
President Trump got teased Friday with a Nobel Peace Prize nomination from the most unlikely source — one of his most bitter rivals, Hillary Clinton. Trump's failed Democratic opponent told the 'Raging Moderates' podcast that she would willingly nominate him for the illustrious prize if he can bring an end to the war in Ukraine without allowing President Vladimir Putin to take territory from its neighbor. 'Honestly, if he could bring about the end to this terrible war, if he could end it without putting Ukraine in a position where it had to concede its territory to the aggressor, could really stand up to Putin — something we haven't seen, but maybe this is the opportunity — if President Trump were the architect of that, I'd nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize,' Clinton told podcast interviewer Jessica Tarlov in an interview released Friday. 3 if President Trump were the architect' of ending the war 'I'd nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize,' Hillary Clinton said. Raging Moderates Podcast 3 Clinton hopes that Trump 'could really stand up to Putin.' Getty Images 3 A girl stands with activists in front of the U.S. embassy ahead of the meeting between Trump and Vladimir Putin to raise awareness about the plight of thousands of POWs and Russia's attacks, in Kyiv on August 15, 2025. REUTERS 'Because my goal here is to not allow capitulation to Putin,' she added. The unexpected offer emerged as Trump was already en route to Alaska for the landmark talks with his Russian counterpart, where he hopes to bring about an end to the three-year conflict in Ukraine. He has expressed a desire to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in the past, following in the footsteps of his predecessor Barack Obama.
The Hill
7 minutes ago
- The Hill
Newsom knocks Border Patrol presence at redistricting announcement: ‘Sick and pathetic'
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) criticized Border Patrol as 'sick and pathetic' after armed agents made a show of force outside the governor's Thursday press conference to announce retaliatory redistricting measures. 'It just said everything you need to know about the setting that we're under,' Newsom said after the event. ' That they chose the time, manner, and place to send their district director outside right when we're about to have this press conference.' He added, 'It's everything we know about Donald Trump's America.' Border Patrol agents made one arrest in the area near the presser, located at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. Gregory Bovino, the local Border Patrol chief, denied that there was any other motive in the agency's presence downtown. 'Breaking the law is not coincidental. Breaking the law is breaking the law,' he told local reporters. At the news conference, Newsom formally announced that he would seek a ballot measure to temporarily bypass the state's independent redistricting commission in favor of a partisan map meant to counter any GOP redistricting measures in Texas. The California governor, widely seen as a 2028 presidential hopeful, has sought to fashion himself as a policy foil to President Trump. On style, however, Newsom has more recently taken a leaf out of Trump's playbook. 'BORDER PATROL HAS SHOWED UP AT OUR BIG BEAUTIFUL PRESS CONFERENCE! WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED!' his press office wrote on social platform X in response to the agents. Redistricting battles have sprung up across the U.S. after Texas Democrats fled the Lone Star State to delay passage of a new Congressional map that would give Republicans at least five more House seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. Democratic states, including Illinois and New York, have also threatened to fight back with their own mid-decade redistricting plans.
Los Angeles Times
37 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor: Is anyone surprised that oil refineries are leaving California?
To the editor: With regard to your article ('Newsom's push to reduce fossil fuels is clashing with California's thirst for gasoline,' Aug. 11), why are Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic members of the state Legislature surprised? The Legislature passes bills that primarily are intended to score points and do more to harass oil companies than they do to reduce air pollution. Newsom applauds these political bills and urges them to pass more. Many years ago, Democrats in the Legislature pretended to be petroleum engineers and designed a funky political kind of gasoline not used by the other 49 states. This political gasoline is the only kind allowed to be sold in California. It is more costly to make and can only be made by oil refineries modified at great expense. When oil companies charge more for this extra-cost gasoline, Newsom accuses them of price gouging. If California cannot find oil refiners outside the U.S. who are willing to modify their refineries to make 'California-only' gasoline, and who are willing to put up with the state government's false acquisitions and harassment, some owners of gasoline-powered cars will have to relearn their childhood skills at riding bicycles. Gordon Binder, Pasadena ... To the editor: All this Sturm und Drang over the closing of two refineries in California is misplaced. Any serious study of market trends would conclude that the end of internal combustion will be as soon as 2035, a mere decade from now. Instead of telling readers that a reduction in oil refining is going to cause price increases because of a scarcity of gasoline, point them in the direction of getting off of gas entirely by switching to an electric vehicle. Americans buy more than 40,000 new cars — about 3,300 of them are EVs — every single day on average. The cheapest gas car is a basic econobox from Nissan for about $17,000. That much money will buy you an excellent used EV that will serve you better without polluting the air or supporting oil companies. And since you aren't buying gas, demand goes down, reducing the need to raise prices. I'd like to see California use the talents of our film industry to produce commercials that dissuade folks from buying new gas cars. Reduce demand for gas cars and we'll get to the end of internal combustion sooner than later. Paul Scott, Santa Monica
