Latest news with #NextUp
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NextUp Announces 2025 Executive Forum
Vision + Velocity: A Premier Gathering for Executive Leaders Driving the Future of Business CHICAGO, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NextUp, a leading membership organization building the next generation of business leaders, proudly announces that the 2025 Executive Forum will take place July 15–17 at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Park City, Utah. This premier, invite-only conference activates the full power of the NextUp community to shape the future of leadership, advance equity, and create lasting impact. "Vision + Velocity is the leadership mindset this moment demands," said Lisa Baird, CEO of NextUp. "It's about seeing what's possible for your business, your people, and your community — and moving boldly and inclusively to turn that vision into impact. This is how we lead with purpose and shape a future that works for everyone." Forum 2025 will bring together over 300 senior leaders from across the country for a three-day experience tailored for executives and strategic decision-makers. Attendees will be invited to challenge conventional thinking, build high-impact networks, and lead with purpose in a fast-evolving world. "Forum is such a valuable experience every year," said Dagmar Boggs, NextUp Executive Board Chair and President of Foodservice and On-Premise for the North America Operating Unit with The Coca-Cola Company. "Once again, NextUp is bringing together eminent thought-leaders for the opportunity to connect in an inspiring setting. This is an essential forum to confront challenges, exchange bold ideas, and shape what's next for business." This year's event, made possible through the generous support of Presenting Partners The Coca-Cola Company and Suntory Global Spirits, will be centered around the theme "Vision + Velocity," empowering leaders to act collectively and create real, sustainable change through future-focused insights, peer collaboration, and bold, actionable strategies. "We are once again proud to support the mission of NextUp at this prestigious event as a Presenting Partner," stated Carlo Coppola, President of North America at Suntory Global Spirits. "NextUp is an incredible organization, and we share their commitment to support the next generation of leaders." This year's keynote speakers include Dominique Shelton Leipzig, CEO of Global Data Innovation; Donna Morris, EVP and Chief People Officer of Walmart; Fraser Bullock, Executive Chair and President of the Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games; and from Kantar, Casey Ferrell, Senior Vice President and Head of U.S. and Canada MONITOR, and Adrienne Pulido, Vice President of Inclusion Insights. Each of these speakers brings a powerful lens on innovation, leadership, and global impact. The closing keynote speaker is Sarah Wynn-Williams. She's an author, former New Zealand diplomat and international lawyer. She joined Facebook after pitching a job and ultimately became director of global public policy. After leaving the company, she's continued to work on tech policy, including artificial intelligence. To learn more and register for the 2025 NextUp Executive Forum, visit About NextUpFounded in 2001, NextUp is the leading national membership organization building the next generation of leaders and inclusive workplace cultures that advance all women in business. We are a powerful, growing community of 100+ partner companies and 16,000+ members across 21 regions. NextUp works to create next-gen leadership opportunities, amplify women's voices, and provide equal opportunities for everyone in the workplace. To learn more about NextUp, visit or on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram (@nextupisnow). Prepared by: NextUp Contact: Shannon Hollingsworth | AMZG Agency press@ | (203) 424-1387 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Network of Executive Women, Inc. d/b/a NextUp Sign in to access your portfolio
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Here's why Kamala Harris could run for governor of California and bypass another White House bid
LOS ANGELES — Many of Kamala Harris' supporters and detractors alike think she'd have better odds running for California governor rather than president a third time. There are several reasons for Harris to make a bid to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. She would immediately become the early front-runner instead of entering a presidential primary with a dozen or more serious contenders. No other candidate in California could match her résumé of having served as San Francisco district attorney, state attorney general, U.S. senator and vice president. Beyond being expected to make a decision by the end of summer, Harris said little about her future. She told a crowd in Orange County in April: 'I'll see you out there. I'm not going anywhere.' Newsom has predicted that Harris would top the field in a contested primary but added, 'if she runs.' To run for governor, 'you have to have a burning 'Why?' ' Newsom said on the 'Next Up with Mark Halperin' podcast. 'And if you can't enunciate that, the answer is 'No,'' Newsom added. 'Why the hell would you want this job?' Here are some reasons why she might want it — and why she might not. Her office did not respond to requests for comment for this story. Harris would have to convince national Democrats that she's the face of the party's future, despite losing to President Donald Trump last fall. She's also tied to former President Joe Biden, whom Democrats are increasingly criticizing as new books drive further discussion about his age and physical and mental readiness during his time in office. The 2028 presidential contest is expected to attract a large field, likely to include Newsom. Any candidate will have to unify a fractious Democratic Party with low approval ratings and struggling to slow Trump's agenda in Washington. Democratic consultant Bill Burton, who was national press secretary for former President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, said Harris would enter a presidential primary with a proven fundraising network, strong recognition with voters and the experience of operating in a Trump-fueled media environment. But the looming question for Democrats is likely to be, 'Who is the best person to stand up to the MAGA movement and exhibit a strength that is going to need to be really formidable?' Burton said. Could Harris make that case? Some think her time has passed. 'She's had her chance,' Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, said in a statement. 'Voters want authentic outsiders who will shake up our broken political system and challenge an economic status quo rigged for billionaires against working people,' Green added. 'That's why Kamala Harris lost, and it's why Democrats must turn elsewhere for leadership.' Harris calls herself a proud daughter of California, and after serving as vice president and in the Senate, she doesn't need to chase another title. That said, California is one of the world's largest economies by itself, and its governor becomes, by default, a national figure. She would most likely run as a proven hand with the experience to lead California's tussles with Trump — the state is known as the epicenter of the so-called Trump resistance — while dealing with its many problems, among them homelessness and a punishing cost of living. In her San Francisco speech last month, she said the nation was witnessing a 'wholesale abandonment' of American ideals under Trump. The contest to replace Newsom in California is crowded, with leading candidates including former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former Biden administration health secretary Xavier Becerra. It's expected that at least some of her rival Democrats would bow out rather than compete against her, including Porter, who in 2012 was appointed by then-attorney general Harris to be the state's independent bank monitor in a multibillion-dollar nationwide mortgage settlement. Democratic consultant Roger Salazar, who was a delegate in the party's 2024 presidential convention, said Harris would stand better odds in a race for governor in her home state. With multiple election wins in California, 'there is just more certainty,' Salazar said. 'I think she's got a leg up right now, but this race hasn't solidified' with the primary more than a year away. How will voters view her? As a favorite daughter of California returning home? Or a two-time presidential also-ran looking for a soft landing? Republican consultant Kevin Madden, who was a senior adviser to Mitt Romney's presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012, was dubious about her chances in either race. It's unusual for a candidate to capture the presidency after two losses — Biden was one example. As for governor, 'the California electorate is about as ideal as it gets for Harris, but nothing about her current electoral record indicates that primary or general election candidates should be scared off,' Madden added. Unlike many other states, California doesn't automatically advance a Democrat and a Republican to the November election. The state's open primary system has tormented many candidates — critics call it the 'jungle primary.' All candidates appear on a single ballot, regardless of party, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. The system can lead to strategic gambles. Last year's U.S. Senate race included three prominent Democrats — U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff, Porter and Barbara Lee. Schiff ran TV ads in the primary that spotlighted Republican Steve Garvey, presumably a weaker contender in the general election than either of his Democratic rivals. Garvey ended up advancing to November, where he was soundly defeated by Schiff, who now holds the seat. But Harris could come out of the June 2, 2026, primary facing a Democrat who ends up criticizing her in much the same way she'd have faced in a 2028 bid. San Francisco-based Democratic consultant Eric Jaye recalled another Californian who, after losing a presidential race, sought to rebound in his home state: Richard Nixon. After being narrowly defeated in the 1960 election by then-Sen. John F. Kennedy, Nixon lost the 1962 race for California governor. (Of course, Nixon ended up winning the White House six years later.) While Harris is a favorite with Democrats, a slice of the electorate has deeply negative views of her, Jaye noted. That doesn't leave her with many voters to gain, and the Democratic primary vote could be divided among multiple candidates. 'I don't think it's in any way guaranteed that she would win,' Jaye said. 'She's a highly polarizing figure.' Harris would be coming home to a long list of problems. The homeless crisis is playing out daily on the streets of Los Angeles and other big cities. Newsom this month said the state is facing a $12 billion deficit and he wants to freeze enrollment in a state-funded health care program for immigrants living in California without legal status. There is a home insurance crisis and a continuing threat from destructive wildfires. And as the last election made clear, Republicans will attempt to saddle her — fairly or not — with her home state's reputation for confiscatory taxes, gas prices and utility bills, seven-figure home prices and liberal social policies.
Boston Globe
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Why Kamala Harris could run for California governor and bypass another White House bid
Newsom has predicted that Harris would top the field in a contested primary but added, 'if she runs.' Advertisement To run for governor, 'you have to have a burning 'Why?' ' Newsom said on the 'Next Up with Mark Halperin' podcast. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'And if you can't enunciate that, the answer is 'No,'' Newsom added. 'Why the hell would you want this job?' Here are some reasons why she might want it — and why she might not. Her office did not respond to requests for comment for this story. Pro: She can skip a fractious 2028 primary Harris would have to convince national Democrats that she's the face of the party's future, despite losing to President Donald Trump last fall. She's also tied to former President Joe Biden, whom Democrats are increasingly criticizing as new books drive further discussion about his age and physical and mental readiness during his time in office. Advertisement The 2028 presidential contest is expected to attract a large field, likely to include Newsom. Any candidate will have to unify a fractious Democratic Party with low approval ratings and struggling to slow Trump's agenda in Washington. Democratic consultant Bill Burton, who was national press secretary for former President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, said Harris would enter a presidential primary with a proven fundraising network, strong recognition with voters and the experience of operating in a Trump-fueled media environment. But the looming question for Democrats is likely to be, 'Who is the best person to stand up to the MAGA movement and exhibit a strength that is going to need to be really formidable?' Burton said. Could Harris make that case? Some think her time has passed. 'She's had her chance,' Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, said in a statement. 'Voters want authentic outsiders who will shake up our broken political system and challenge an economic status quo rigged for billionaires against working people,' Green added. 'That's why Kamala Harris lost, and it's why Democrats must turn elsewhere for leadership.' Pro: California governor might be a safer bet Harris calls herself a proud daughter of California, and after serving as vice president and in the Senate, she doesn't need to chase another title. That said, California is one of the world's largest economies by itself, and its governor becomes, by default, a national figure. She would most likely run as a proven hand with the experience to lead California's tussles with Trump — the state is known as the epicenter of the so-called Trump resistance — while dealing with its many problems, among them homelessness and a punishing cost of living. Advertisement In her San Francisco speech last month, she said the nation was witnessing a 'wholesale abandonment' of American ideals under Trump. The contest to replace Newsom in California is crowded, with leading candidates including former US Representative Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former Biden administration health secretary Xavier Becerra. It's expected that at least some of her rival Democrats would bow out rather than compete against her, including Porter, who in 2012 was appointed by then-attorney general Harris to be the state's independent bank monitor in a multibillion-dollar nationwide mortgage settlement. Democratic consultant Roger Salazar, who was a delegate in the party's 2024 presidential convention, said Harris would stand better odds in a race for governor in her home state. With multiple election wins in California, 'there is just more certainty,' Salazar said. 'I think she's got a leg up right now, but this race hasn't solidified' with the primary more than a year away. Con: Will voters welcome her back? How will voters view her? As a favorite daughter of California returning home? Or a two-time presidential also-ran looking for a soft landing? Republican consultant Kevin Madden, who was a senior adviser to Mitt Romney's presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012, was dubious about her chances in either race. It's unusual for a candidate to capture the presidency after two losses — Biden was one example. As for governor, 'the California electorate is about as ideal as it gets for Harris, but nothing about her current electoral record indicates that primary or general election candidates should be scared off,' Madden added. Con: She won't necessarily run against a Republican in November Unlike many other states, California doesn't automatically advance a Democrat and a Republican to the November election. Advertisement The state's open primary system has tormented many candidates — critics call it the 'jungle primary.' All candidates appear on a single ballot, regardless of party, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. The system can lead to strategic gambles. Last year's US Senate race included three prominent Democrats — US Reps. Adam Schiff, Porter and Barbara Lee. Schiff ran TV ads in the primary that spotlighted Republican Steve Garvey, presumably a weaker contender in the general election than either of his Democratic rivals. Garvey ended up advancing to November, where he was soundly defeated by Schiff, who now holds the seat. But Harris could come out of the June 2, 2026, primary facing a Democrat who ends up criticizing her in much the same way she'd have faced in a 2028 bid. San Francisco-based Democratic consultant Eric Jaye recalled another Californian who, after losing a presidential race, sought to rebound in his home state: Richard Nixon. After being narrowly defeated in the 1960 election by then-Sen. John F. Kennedy, Nixon lost the 1962 race for California governor. (Of course, Nixon ended up winning the White House six years later.) While Harris is a favorite with Democrats, a slice of the electorate has deeply negative views of her, Jaye noted. That doesn't leave her with many voters to gain, and the Democratic primary vote could be divided among multiple candidates. 'I don't think it's in any way guaranteed that she would win,' Jaye said. 'She's a highly polarizing figure.' Con: Does she want to go to Sacramento? Harris would be coming home to a long list of problems. The homeless crisis is playing out daily on the streets of Los Angeles and other big cities. Newsom this month said the state is facing a $12 billion deficit and he wants to freeze enrollment in a state-funded health care program for immigrants living in California without legal status. There is a home insurance crisis and a continuing threat from destructive wildfires. Advertisement And as the last election made clear, Republicans will attempt to saddle her — fairly or not — with her home state's reputation for confiscatory taxes, gas prices and utility bills, seven-figure home prices and liberal social policies.
22-05-2025
- Politics
Why Kamala Harris could run for California governor, bypass another White House bid
LOS ANGELES -- Many of Kamala Harris' supporters and detractors alike think she'd have better odds running for California governor rather than president a third time. There are several reasons for Harris to make a bid to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. She would immediately become the early front-runner instead of entering a presidential primary with a dozen or more serious contenders. No other candidate in California could match her résumé of having served as San Francisco district attorney, state attorney general, U.S. senator and vice president. Beyond being expected to make a decision by the end of summer, Harris said little about her future. She told a crowd in Orange County in April: 'I'll see you out there. I'm not going anywhere.' Newsom has predicted that Harris would top the field in a contested primary but added, 'if she runs.' To run for governor, 'you have to have a burning 'Why?' ' Newsom said on the 'Next Up with Mark Halperin' podcast. 'And if you can't enunciate that, the answer is 'No,'' Newsom added. 'Why the hell would you want this job?' Here are some reasons why she might want it — and why she might not. Her office did not respond to requests for comment for this story. Harris would have to convince national Democrats that she's the face of the party's future, despite losing to President Donald Trump last fall. She's also tied to former President Joe Biden, whom Democrats are increasingly criticizing as new books drive further discussion about his age and physical and mental readiness during his time in office. The 2028 presidential contest is expected to attract a large field, likely to include Newsom. Any candidate will have to unify a fractious Democratic Party with low approval ratings and struggling to slow Trump's agenda in Washington. Democratic consultant Bill Burton, who was national press secretary for former President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, said Harris would enter a presidential primary with a proven fundraising network, strong recognition with voters and the experience of operating in a Trump-fueled media environment. But the looming question for Democrats is likely to be, 'Who is the best person to stand up to the MAGA movement and exhibit a strength that is going to need to be really formidable?' Burton said. Could Harris make that case? Some think her time has passed. 'She's had her chance,' Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, said in a statement. 'Voters want authentic outsiders who will shake up our broken political system and challenge an economic status quo rigged for billionaires against working people," Green added. 'That's why Kamala Harris lost, and it's why Democrats must turn elsewhere for leadership.' Harris calls herself a proud daughter of California, and after serving as vice president and in the Senate, she doesn't need to chase another title. That said, California is one of the world's largest economies by itself, and its governor becomes, by default, a national figure. She would most likely run as a proven hand with the experience to lead California's tussles with Trump — the state is known as the epicenter of the so-called Trump resistance — while dealing with its many problems, among them homelessness and a punishing cost of living. In her San Francisco speech last month, she said the nation was witnessing a 'wholesale abandonment' of American ideals under Trump. The contest to replace Newsom in California is crowded, with leading candidates including former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former Biden administration health secretary Xavier Becerra. It's expected that at least some of her rival Democrats would bow out rather than compete against her, including Porter, who in 2012 was appointed by then-attorney general Harris to be the state's independent bank monitor in a multibillion-dollar nationwide mortgage settlement. Democratic consultant Roger Salazar, who was a delegate in the party's 2024 presidential convention, said Harris would stand better odds in a race for governor in her home state. With multiple election wins in California, 'there is just more certainty,' Salazar said. 'I think she's got a leg up right now, but this race hasn't solidified' with the primary more than a year away. How will voters view her? As a favorite daughter of California returning home? Or a two-time presidential also-ran looking for a soft landing? Republican consultant Kevin Madden, who was a senior adviser to Mitt Romney's presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012, was dubious about her chances in either race. It's unusual for a candidate to capture the presidency after two losses — Biden was one example. As for governor, 'the California electorate is about as ideal as it gets for Harris, but nothing about her current electoral record indicates that primary or general election candidates should be scared off,' Madden added. Unlike many other states, California doesn't automatically advance a Democrat and a Republican to the November election. The state's open primary system has tormented many candidates — critics call it the 'jungle primary.' All candidates appear on a single ballot, regardless of party, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. The system can lead to strategic gambles. Last year's U.S. Senate race included three prominent Democrats — U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff, Porter and Barbara Lee. Schiff ran TV ads in the primary that spotlighted Republican Steve Garvey, presumably a weaker contender in the general election than either of his Democratic rivals. Garvey ended up advancing to November, where he was soundly defeated by Schiff, who now holds the seat. But Harris could come out of the June 2, 2026, primary facing a Democrat who ends up criticizing her in much the same way she'd have faced in a 2028 bid. San Francisco-based Democratic consultant Eric Jaye recalled another Californian who, after losing a presidential race, sought to rebound in his home state: Richard Nixon. After being narrowly defeated in the 1960 election by then-Sen. John F. Kennedy, Nixon lost the 1962 race for California governor. (Of course, Nixon ended up winning the White House six years later.) While Harris is a favorite with Democrats, a slice of the electorate has deeply negative views of her, Jaye noted. That doesn't leave her with many voters to gain, and the Democratic primary vote could be divided among multiple candidates. 'I don't think it's in any way guaranteed that she would win,' Jaye said. 'She's a highly polarizing figure.' Harris would be coming home to a long list of problems. The homeless crisis is playing out daily on the streets of Los Angeles and other big cities. Newsom this month said the state is facing a $12 billion deficit and he wants to freeze enrollment in a state-funded health care program for immigrants living in California without legal status. There is a home insurance crisis and a continuing threat from destructive wildfires. And as the last election made clear, Republicans will attempt to saddle her — fairly or not — with her home state's reputation for confiscatory taxes, gas prices and utility bills, seven-figure home prices and liberal social policies.
Winnipeg Free Press
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Why Kamala Harris could run for California governor and bypass another White House bid
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Many of Kamala Harris' supporters and detractors alike think she'd have better odds running for California governor rather than president a third time. There are several reasons for Harris to make a bid to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. She would immediately become the early front-runner instead of entering a presidential primary with a dozen or more serious contenders. No other candidate in California could match her résumé of having served as San Francisco district attorney, state attorney general, U.S. senator and vice president. Beyond being expected to make a decision by the end of summer, Harris said little about her future. She told a crowd in Orange County in April: 'I'll see you out there. I'm not going anywhere.' Newsom has predicted that Harris would top the field in a contested primary but added, 'if she runs.' To run for governor, 'you have to have a burning 'Why?' ' Newsom said on the 'Next Up with Mark Halperin' podcast. 'And if you can't enunciate that, the answer is 'No,'' Newsom added. 'Why the hell would you want this job?' Here are some reasons why she might want it — and why she might not. Her office did not respond to requests for comment for this story. Pro: She can skip a fractious 2028 primary Harris would have to convince national Democrats that she's the face of the party's future, despite losing to President Donald Trump last fall. She's also tied to former President Joe Biden, whom Democrats are increasingly criticizing as new books drive further discussion about his age and physical and mental readiness during his time in office. The 2028 presidential contest is expected to attract a large field, likely to include Newsom. Any candidate will have to unify a fractious Democratic Party with low approval ratings and struggling to slow Trump's agenda in Washington. Democratic consultant Bill Burton, who was national press secretary for former President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, said Harris would enter a presidential primary with a proven fundraising network, strong recognition with voters and the experience of operating in a Trump-fueled media environment. But the looming question for Democrats is likely to be, 'Who is the best person to stand up to the MAGA movement and exhibit a strength that is going to need to be really formidable?' Burton said. Could Harris make that case? Some think her time has passed. 'She's had her chance,' Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, said in a statement. 'Voters want authentic outsiders who will shake up our broken political system and challenge an economic status quo rigged for billionaires against working people,' Green added. 'That's why Kamala Harris lost, and it's why Democrats must turn elsewhere for leadership.' Pro: California governor might be a safer bet Harris calls herself a proud daughter of California, and after serving as vice president and in the Senate, she doesn't need to chase another title. That said, California is one of the world's largest economies by itself, and its governor becomes, by default, a national figure. She would most likely run as a proven hand with the experience to lead California's tussles with Trump — the state is known as the epicenter of the so-called Trump resistance — while dealing with its many problems, among them homelessness and a punishing cost of living. In her San Francisco speech last month, she said the nation was witnessing a 'wholesale abandonment' of American ideals under Trump. The contest to replace Newsom in California is crowded, with leading candidates including former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former Biden administration health secretary Xavier Becerra. It's expected that at least some of her rival Democrats would bow out rather than compete against her, including Porter, who in 2012 was appointed by then-attorney general Harris to be the state's independent bank monitor in a multibillion-dollar nationwide mortgage settlement. Democratic consultant Roger Salazar, who was a delegate in the party's 2024 presidential convention, said Harris would stand better odds in a race for governor in her home state. With multiple election wins in California, 'there is just more certainty,' Salazar said. 'I think she's got a leg up right now, but this race hasn't solidified' with the primary more than a year away. Con: Will voters welcome her back? How will voters view her? As a favorite daughter of California returning home? Or a two-time presidential also-ran looking for a soft landing? Republican consultant Kevin Madden, who was a senior adviser to Mitt Romney's presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012, was dubious about her chances in either race. It's unusual for a candidate to capture the presidency after two losses — Biden was one example. As for governor, 'the California electorate is about as ideal as it gets for Harris, but nothing about her current electoral record indicates that primary or general election candidates should be scared off,' Madden added. Con: She won't necessarily run against a Republican in November Unlike many other states, California doesn't automatically advance a Democrat and a Republican to the November election. The state's open primary system has tormented many candidates — critics call it the 'jungle primary.' All candidates appear on a single ballot, regardless of party, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. The system can lead to strategic gambles. Last year's U.S. Senate race included three prominent Democrats — U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff, Porter and Barbara Lee. Schiff ran TV ads in the primary that spotlighted Republican Steve Garvey, presumably a weaker contender in the general election than either of his Democratic rivals. Garvey ended up advancing to November, where he was soundly defeated by Schiff, who now holds the seat. But Harris could come out of the June 2, 2026, primary facing a Democrat who ends up criticizing her in much the same way she'd have faced in a 2028 bid. San Francisco-based Democratic consultant Eric Jaye recalled another Californian who, after losing a presidential race, sought to rebound in his home state: Richard Nixon. After being narrowly defeated in the 1960 election by then-Sen. John F. Kennedy, Nixon lost the 1962 race for California governor. (Of course, Nixon ended up winning the White House six years later.) While Harris is a favorite with Democrats, a slice of the electorate has deeply negative views of her, Jaye noted. That doesn't leave her with many voters to gain, and the Democratic primary vote could be divided among multiple candidates. 'I don't think it's in any way guaranteed that she would win,' Jaye said. 'She's a highly polarizing figure.' Con: Does she want to go to Sacramento? Harris would be coming home to a long list of problems. The homeless crisis is playing out daily on the streets of Los Angeles and other big cities. Newsom this month said the state is facing a $12 billion deficit and he wants to freeze enrollment in a state-funded health care program for immigrants living in California without legal status. There is a home insurance crisis and a continuing threat from destructive wildfires. And as the last election made clear, Republicans will attempt to saddle her — fairly or not — with her home state's reputation for confiscatory taxes, gas prices and utility bills, seven-figure home prices and liberal social policies.
