Nothing is official, yet, because the time is not right, but all the signs point to another White House run for former Vice President Kamala Harris. Despite the electoral disaster that was the 2024 Harris-Walz campaign, there is still a lot of support for Joe Biden’s erstwhile number two among Democrat voters. That may be more of an emotional attachment than a preference grounded in policy platform or past performance. A significant number of left-wingers have obsessed over the idea of a female president for some years, which is odd, considering that it’s supposed to be taboo for progressives to classify people according to binary male and female identities.
This also means Harris could be taking the first steps on the road to a nasty showdown with another high-profile Californian contender.
Harris is still crisscrossing America primarily to sell her book about the 2024 presidential election campaign. But, as a Breitbart report noted, the book tour has some telling 2026 venues lined up: South Carolina – a jewel in the presidential primary crown for Democrats – as well as a selection of cities with large numbers of black voters – Detroit, Memphis, Montgomery, AL, and Jackson, MS.
At the risk of being called racist, which no longer means much at all, thanks to people on the left using it so carelessly and without context, this author will observe that the locations mentioned don’t seem like the kinds of places one visits to sell books. They are, however, exactly the places one would visit if one were planning to run for president as a Democrat.
Is Kamala Harris Selling Books or Stumping for Votes?
And Kamala Harris spends as much time, if not more, talking about the state of politics in America as she spends promoting her book. During a Dec. 12 speech, Harris said, “Both parties have failed to hold the public’s trust. Government is viewed as fundamentally unable to meet the needs of its people.” She added, “People are done with the status quo and they’re ready to break things to force change.”
That sounds a lot like a stump speech, and wagering Kamala Harris will not throw her hat into the ring for 2028 is probably a risky bet.
What does all that mean for California Governor Gavin Newsom, whom everyone is expecting to launch a bid to succeed President Donald Trump? It’s probably not good news. While Newsom can tout executive experience from his years running The Golden State, his record doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. Americans aren’t exactly marveling at what Newsom has achieved. More people are moving out of California than moving in.
Newsom Taking Heat Already
Newsom has recently become the target of criticism from a couple of people who, while not political heavyweights, have devoted followings of their own. Rapper Nicki Minaj – not exactly an unknown – has made a point, recently, of going after Newsom on social media.
When the governor recently stated that he wanted “to see trans kids,” Minaj picked up on the creepiness of the statement, posting on X, “Imagine being the guy running on wanting to see trans kids. Haha. Not even a trans ADULT would run on that. Normal adults wake up & think they want to see HEALTHY, SAFE, HAPPY kids. Not Gav. The Gav Nots. GavOUT. Send in the next guy, I’m bored.”
In one of Minaj’s several tweets attacking Newsom, the recording artist jabbed him for being “the cute boy who got everything handed to him b/c of how cute & sexy & hot & smoking he was… He thinks he’s Tom Cruise only difference is, his next mission IS impossible. He should get another leading role.”
While Nicki Minaj supports President Trump, another singer, Tish Hyman – who says she is neither a Democrat nor a Republican – recently posted on X, “No more NEWSCUM. Not in California and definitely NOT in the presidential seat.” In particular, Hyman is a fierce opponent of allowing “trans women” – that is, men – in women’s spaces, such as gym locker rooms and showers.
Newsom’s road to the nomination, assuming he runs, is not going to be a walk in the park. Despite her lack of substance and subpar communication skills, Kamala Harris has a following. Newsom does not – or, at least, certainly not to the same extent.
And while Newsom cannot possibly avoid blame for the state of California – and particularly the scandalous response to the Pacific Palisades wildfire – Kamala Harris has largely avoided any backlash for the resounding defeat Trump dealt her in 2024.
Outside of California, how many Democrat voters are likely to pick Newsom over Harris? Trump supporters could probably only shake their heads and laugh at such a choice – but from the perspective of the average Democrat voter not from California and, thus, having no loyalty to Newsom as “their” governor, what would be their likely choice? The smart money says they are going to choose their beloved former VP. And Harris likely knows that – and she’s probably already getting her ducks in a row. We will have to wait another couple of years to find out if she took away any lessons from her last debacle.
