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Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kamala Harris' decision kickstarts the 2028 Democratic presidential primary: 5 takeaways
She's out, but is she really still in? Kamala Harris ended months of speculation about running for California governor on July 30 when she announced she wasn't vying for the top spot in her home state. "For now," she said, her leadership and public service won't be in elected halls of power. Only Harris knows how long that will be, but her decision leaves the door open for mounting a third White House bid in 2028 amid what's expected to be a jam-packed Democratic field but where the former 60-year-old vice president's diehard supporters appear ready to leap at as President Donald Trump's approval numbers dip. "I remain proud AF to have voted for Kamala Harris," Ricky Davila, a Los Angeles-based musician, said in a July 30 post on X, responding to her decision. "It'll always break my heart that we were robbed (of) the opportunity to have a fantastic once in a lifetime president." But the choice comes at a time when Democrats are trying to turn the page, particularly in terms of festering questions surrounding former President Joe Biden's unprecedented exit from last year's race. Here are five takeaways on Harris' blockbuster decision, and what it could mean for Democrats going forward. Harris declining California governor marks '28 kickoff Several 2028 hopefuls on the Democratic side have already begun to put their stakes in the ground, whether by visiting early states, launching podcasts or drawing thousands at rallies across the country. But Harris forgoing a California governor bid now means that a new round of speculation will begin as to whether she wants a third bite at the apple. That will change the calculus for some would-be contenders, but also left-leaning advocacy groups and importantly voters. Longtime Harris allies were bullish, saying the 60-year-old Democrat's brand remains strong. They were blunt when asked about her future. "She can do anything she wants to do, but she owes us nothing," CNN commentator Bakari Sellers told USA TODAY. "She's a talent and 2028 could be it. Or 2032. Whatever she decides. She's young." A month before Harris' decision, however, an Emerson College survey was showing her support in a hypothetical 2028 contest beginning to slip as other names emerge. The mock Democratic primary found 16% supporting former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, with Harris at 13% followed by current California Gov. Gavin Newsom at 12% and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez both at 7% respectively. More voters were undecided at 23%, the June poll showed. Returning to the national stage, but with Biden's baggage There's no doubt Harris would be the most formidable contender and popular figure among the base if she returns to the national stage. She has the highest name ID and widest fundraising network by far of the potential candidates currently rumored. But she also carries a decent portion of the baggage from the 2024 campaign, which collapsed after Biden's poor debate performance that reminded the nation about his age and acuity. Harris' return risks reopening wounds and questions about her role and decision-making during the Biden administration just as the party looks to heal itself after bypassing on a public autopsy about last year's loss. The former VP said in her July 30 statement that her immediate leadership will be dedicated to "helping elect Democrats across the nation." The first test of that appetite for Harris will come this fall as critical races for governor in New Jersey and Virginia -- two states she won in 2024 -- are gearing up for November. Both Reps. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., and Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., the Democratic gubernatorial nominees in their respective states, endorsed Harris for president. It will be telling how eager and in what ways they and other Democrats, particularly in battleground states and swing districts, will be for Harris' return to the trail whether it is this year or the upcoming 2026 midterms. "Excited about (Harris) hitting the road and traveling the country to help us flip the House and win back Congress," Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., said in a July 30 post on X. "Let's go!" '107 Days': Harris debuts new book Harris delivered another revealing piece of news after passing on the California governor's race. She is coming out with a book about her experience entitled "107 Days" - which was the length of her abbreviated campaign. "Since leaving office, I've spent a lot of time reflecting on those days and with candor and reflection, I've written a behind-the-scenes account of that journey," Harris said in a July 31 post on X. "I believe there's value in sharing what I saw, what I learned, and what it will take to move forward." How much it will reveal remains to be seen about last year's campaign, chiefly her knowledge about Biden's health and how it all went down when she received the party's nomination. Simon & Schuster, the New York-based publisher behind the book, is advertising it as a "page-turning account" with "surprising and revealing insights" so expect political observers to pour over if it lives up to the hype, but the book gives Harris a chance to go back on the road and keep her profile high. Don't expect 2028 hopefuls to back down amid rising progressive populism If Harris ends up running for a third time, don't expect other rumored candidates to simply walk away and allow for another coronation. Democrats have been engaged in a big debate about their party's future for much of this year, including sharp criticisms of their leadership in Congress around how to effectively challenge Trump. There also is a rising populism on the left, emboldened by Zohran Mamdani's win in the New York City Democratic primary in June. Those within the activist left especially are pointing to a shift, especially around issues that Harris ducked during the 2024 campaign such as the ongoing conflict in Gaza. A poll released July 29 by Data for Progress, for instance, found 78% of NYC Democratic voters said Israel is committing genocide in the region, and that more are likely to side with the Palestinians. "The dam has broken," Margaret DeReus, executive director of the Institute for Middle East Understanding, which commissioned the survey, said in a statement. "As the Democratic Party considers its future after November's loss, and as poll after poll shows the party's approval to be at historic lows, Zohran Mamdani's ability to energize new voters with his bold platform for Palestinian rights should be a wake-up call." If Harris does run again, it also would create a bit of an awkward scenario where she would be jockeying against some of the same people her failed campaign vetted to be her running mate, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who was on the 2024 ticket but has spoken out about last year's campaign. "We shouldn't have been playing this thing so safe," Walz told Politico in March. California governor's race is now wide open Now that Harris is out, the California governor's race becomes a massive derby among roughly a dozen notable contenders who have already expressed an intention to join the 2026 primary battle. Among the names are Xavier Becerra, a former health secretary under Biden; Antonio Villaraigosa, a former L.A. mayor; current Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, who has been endorsed by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, an outspoken Trump supporter; and former Rep. Katie Porter, a staunch progressive who previously ran for Senate and who many believe to be in the best position to benefit from Harris' exit. A University of California, Irvine poll released July 2 showed Harris at 24% with no other would-be contenders receiving double-digit support. Remember in California, candidates sprint in a primary where the top two finishers, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election in a runoff. California, which holds the world's fourth largest economy, is thought of as a safe blue state by most forecasters but it has been at the forefront of Trump's immigration crackdown, which has been marked by violent clashes between law enforcement and left-leaning demonstrators. It also has been in the news around other issues, such as homelessness and wildfires, and the UCI survey found that by a 2-to-1 margin, most Californians think their state is on the wrong track. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kamala Harris stirs Democrats and the 2028 election pot: 5 takeaways
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kamala Harris to publish behind-the-scenes account of failed 2024 campaign
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is teasing a "behind-the-scenes" look at her abbreviated and ultimately unsuccessful 2024 White House bid. Harris, in a video posted to social media on Thursday, announced that her new book, titled "107 Days," releases in September and will provide details on what she calls "the shortest presidential campaign in modern history." "I believe there's value in sharing what I saw, what I learned, and what I know it will take to move forward," Harris said. Harris replaced then-President Joe Biden last July as the Democratic Party's 2024 presidential nominee after he dropped out of the race amid mounting questions over his physical and mental stamina following a disastrous debate performance a month earlier against now-President Donald Trump. Kamala Harris Rules Out 2026 Run In Her Home State Of California "What the world saw on the campaign trail was only part of the story," Harris teases. Read On The Fox News App The news from Harris came one day after she announced that she wouldn't run in 2026 for governor of her home state of California. But her decision to keep her name off the ballot next year left the door open for a possible second presidential bid in 2028. In her statement on Wednesday explaining her decision, Harris said, "For now, my leadership — and public service — will not be in elected office." "I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans," she said. After losing last year's election to Trump and then serving out the remainder of her term as vice president, Harris returned to California and kept close counsel with an inner circle of confidants. And some in her inner circle, as well as political analysts, suggested that running and winning the election in 2026 for governor of California, the nation's most populous state and home to the world's fifth-largest economy, would likely take a 2028 White House run off the table. But with a gubernatorial run off the table, that's no longer a concern. 21 Democrats Who May Run For The White House In 2028 If Harris eventually does launch a 2028 presidential campaign, she would start her ride on the road to the White House as the most recognizable Democrat in what's expected to be a large field of contenders. And she would also come equipped with a broad fundraising network that she built up last cycle. "She would certainly be a very serious candidate in the primary in 2028, if she runs," a Democratic strategist and veteran of multiple White House campaigns told Fox News Digital. The strategist, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, said that "a lot of Democrats think she was put in a tough spot in 2024 and deserves to have a chance to run a race on her own…she was limited in doing some of the things that politically she might have needed to do to make a cleaner break with Biden." But Harris could also potentially be weighed down with plenty of political baggage from the 2024 campaign, when the Democrats lost not only the White House but also their Senate majority, and failed to win back control of the House. Succeeding Trump In 2028: Six Republicans To Keep Your Eyes On As the party looks to escape the political wilderness, many Democrats are aiming to make a clear break with the past as they strive for a reset. "If you're trying to take a different path for the party, it's hard to go backwards and pick the person who lost to Trump," a Democratic consultant told Fox News. "There needs to be a fresh start, a new generation." If Harris does run, she'd have to deal with her unwavering support for Biden as his physical and mental abilities appeared to waver in front of Americans. Republican Rep. James Comer, who as House Oversight chair is investigating the former president's use of the autopen and mental fitness while in the White House, said in an interview on Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle" that "the odds of Kamala Harris getting a subpoena are very high." While Harris has been spending recent months mulling her decision on a gubernatorial run, other potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders have already been making early moves as they try to move past the Biden administration and last year's election setbacks. Among them are Govs. Gavin Newsom of California, JB Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Wes Moore of Maryland, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, as well as Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and former Biden Transportation Secretary Pete article source: Kamala Harris to publish behind-the-scenes account of failed 2024 campaign
Fox News
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Kamala Harris to publish behind-the-scenes account of failed 2024 campaign
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is teasing a "behind-the-scenes" look at her abbreviated and ultimately unsuccessful 2024 White House bid. Harris, in a video posted to social media on Thursday, announced that her new book, titled "107 Days," releases in September and will provide details on what she calls "the shortest presidential campaign in modern history." "I believe there's value in sharing what I saw, what I learned, and what I know it will take to move forward," Harris said. Harris replaced then-President Joe Biden last July as the Democratic Party's 2024 presidential nominee after he dropped out of the race amid mounting questions over his physical and mental stamina following a disastrous debate performance a month earlier against now-President Donald Trump. "What the world saw on the campaign trail was only part of the story," Harris teases. The news from Harris came one day after she announced that she wouldn't run in 2026 for governor of her home state of California. But her decision to keep her name off the ballot next year left the door open for a possible second presidential bid in 2028. In her statement on Wednesday explaining her decision, Harris said, "For now, my leadership — and public service — will not be in elected office." "I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans," she said. After losing last year's election to Trump and then serving out the remainder of her term as vice president, Harris returned to California and kept close counsel with an inner circle of confidants. And some in her inner circle, as well as political analysts, suggested that running and winning the election in 2026 for governor of California, the nation's most populous state and home to the world's fifth-largest economy, would likely take a 2028 White House run off the table. But with a gubernatorial run off the table, that's no longer a concern. If Harris eventually does launch a 2028 presidential campaign, she would start her ride on the road to the White House as the most recognizable Democrat in what's expected to be a large field of contenders. And she would also come equipped with a broad fundraising network that she built up last cycle. "She would certainly be a very serious candidate in the primary in 2028, if she runs," a Democratic strategist and veteran of multiple White House campaigns told Fox News Digital. The strategist, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, said that "a lot of Democrats think she was put in a tough spot in 2024 and deserves to have a chance to run a race on her own…she was limited in doing some of the things that politically she might have needed to do to make a cleaner break with Biden." But Harris could also potentially be weighed down with plenty of political baggage from the 2024 campaign, when the Democrats lost not only the White House but also their Senate majority, and failed to win back control of the House. As the party looks to escape the political wilderness, many Democrats are aiming to make a clear break with the past as they strive for a reset. "If you're trying to take a different path for the party, it's hard to go backwards and pick the person who lost to Trump," a Democratic consultant told Fox News. "There needs to be a fresh start, a new generation." If Harris does run, she'd have to deal with her unwavering support for Biden as his physical and mental abilities appeared to waver in front of Americans. Republican Rep. James Comer, who as House Oversight chair is investigating the former president's use of the autopen and mental fitness while in the White House, said in an interview on Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle" that "the odds of Kamala Harris getting a subpoena are very high." While Harris has been spending recent months mulling her decision on a gubernatorial run, other potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders have already been making early moves as they try to move past the Biden administration and last year's election setbacks. Among them are Govs. Gavin Newsom of California, JB Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Wes Moore of Maryland, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, as well as Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and former Biden Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
The Independent
30-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Eric Trump gives three-word response to question about whether he will run in 2028
Eric Trump, the second-oldest son of President Donald Trump, has suggested that a family member, other than his father, might consider a future bid for the White House. Speaking to BBC Sport's Dan Roan about the possibility of a Trump dynasty, Eric stated that a relative 'could… certainly' make a bid for the presidency, though he noted that the more pertinent question was whether they would want to do so. Asked about his own ambitions for the Oval Office, following in the footsteps of his father, in the mold of the Kennedys, Clintons, and Bushes, he dismissed the idea, saying he very much doubted he would consider a run in 2028, observing: 'Politics is brutal.' Eric says his doubts about seeking office stem from his commitment to his company and young family, as well as the harsh nature of politics. He referenced what he called past attempts to harm his father, including investigations, legal battles, and the two attempts on his life during the 2024 campaign. 'People have asked me to, people have suggested I would. The answer is, I very much doubt I would even consider [a run] in '28 as I've got a great company. I've got young kids. Politics is brutal. It's brutal,' he said. 'They put us through hell. They tried to bankrupt us. They tried to put my father in jail. They tried to indict him. They tried to smear him. They made up Russia hoaxes, which they tried to [use to] impeach him. They tried to take him off ballots,' Eric continued. 'They tried to censor his free speech. You know, they pulled him off of every channel, and listen, you know, they tried to kill him twice this year, right? Or inflict serious harm. Politics is brutal.' Trump was impeached twice in his first term, once over his alleged efforts to extort Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, and then over his part in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. In the aftermath of the riot, which cost at least five lives, social media platforms banned the outgoing president for fear he would incite more violence. In May 2024, Trump was criminally convicted on 34 felony counts by a jury in New York for falsifying business accounts to try to hide his alleged affair with an adult movie star ahead of the 2016 election. He was also criminally charged in three other cases – relating to his role in the January 6 riot; for mishandling secret papers at his Mar-a-Lago home after leaving office; and for trying to bully a Georgia official into 'finding' him more votes so he could overturn the result of the 2020 election in that state. The first two cases were dismissed when he was re-elected, while the Georgia case remains paused. In separate civil cases, Trump was found to have sexually abused and defamed a magazine columnist, E Jean Carroll, and to have engaged in financial fraud by changing valuations of his assets to give different estimates to potential lenders and tax authorities. On the campaign trail for re-election in 2024, Trump faced two assassination attempts, one of which saw him wounded in the right ear. Some MAGA supporters have tried to link the assassination attempts to the Democrats, although so far no evidence has come to light to suggest that is true. In 2019, the Mueller Report found that the Trump campaign welcomed interference from Russia during the 2016 election campaign but did not collude with the Russians, and that Trump may have possibly tried to obstruct the course of justice 11 times by trying to shut down the investigation into his links with Moscow. His attorney general at the time, Bill Barr, said Trump could not be prosecuted as he was president. Eric, 41, acknowledged that while his father would like a family member to run, it would depend on the state of the country. 'So you asked, 'Could we?' And I think the answer is, could somebody in the family? Certainly, I think there's another question, which is, 'Would we?'' he said. 'And, you know, a long time ago, [my father] said, you know, he had to answer the same question. And his answer to that question was, if it got so bad that I had no other choice, I would. Maybe the same question can kind of be posed of us, if it got so bad, maybe, maybe we would.' Eric also praised other potential Republican candidates, such as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, suggesting they could continue his father's legacy. 'And I think there's a tremendous amount of great people out there. I think JD Vance would do a great job. I think Marco Rubio would do a great job … We have real talent in the Republican Party, in the U.S., and I think they can certainly continue my father's legacy outside of our family.' This is the second time in recent weeks that Eric Trump has spoken about the potential for a family political dynasty. In late June, he told The Financial Times that a political career would be 'easy' for family members to pursue after the end of the president's second term in 2029. 'The real question is: 'Do you want to drag other members of your family into it?'' Eric told the paper. 'Would I want my kids to live the same experience over the last decade that I've lived?' he asked. 'If the answer was yes, I think the political path would be an easy one, meaning, I think I could do it,' he added. 'And by the way, I think other members of our family could do it too.' Eric told the paper that he's 'wholly unimpressed by half the politicians I see,' claiming that he could 'do it very effectively.' He then returned to the question of whether you want to enter politics, given the 'brutality of this system.' Eric is the co-executive vice president of the Trump Organization and has mostly remained outside the political fray, unlike his siblings, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump. Don Jr. plays an active, though unofficial, role supporting their father in person and through social media and podcasting. Ivanka joined her father in the White House during his first term as an adviser, but announced that she would not be returning to politics on the day her father launched his re-election campaign in 2022. Their half-siblings, Tiffany Trump and Barron Trump, have joined their father on the campaign trail but have also remained largely out of the political fray.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Joe Rogan urges Texas Democrat to run for president
Podcast host Joe Rogan offered high praise for state Rep. James Talarico (D) on his podcast Friday, telling the Texas lawmaker that he should launch a White House bid. 'You need to run for president. We need someone who is actually a good person,' Rogan said at the end of a multi-hour interview. Talarico, who has been in office since 2018, has been considered a rising star by some for his Christian faith and popular TikTok account where he pushes back on Texas GOP policy on education and public schools. Appearing on Rogan's podcast is a coveted opportunity for politicians, notably for Democrats looking to recapture the young, male audience the party feels it has lost. Talarico is considering a dark-horse bid for Senate in a crowded Democratic primary that includes former Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas). He laughed after Rogan told him to run for president and pushed back on the host's suggestion. 'We were talking about how politics has become a religion. This is one of the ways it does. People put all their faith in a politician,' Talarico said. 'I've seen it with Bernie. I like Bernie a whole lot, but some people treat him as if he's a messianic figure,' the Texas lawmaker added. 'And Trump on the right, people treat him as a messiah in some ways. This is a problem.' Talarico told Politico that the invitation from Rogan came after the popular podcast host saw one of his videos on TikTok, where he has almost one million followers. In increasingly viral videos, Talarico has railed against a Texas bill to require schools to display the Ten Commandments and panned a new bill on private school vouchers. He is currently studying to become a pastor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
