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There is widespread speculation about whether former Vice President Kamala Harris will run for California governor in 2026 or seek the White House again in 2028.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has stated that he will support Harris if she decides to run for governor of the Golden State in 2026. Bonta, a former state lawmaker who has served as California attorney general since 2021, announced that he will seek re-election next year rather than launch a gubernatorial campaign, putting an end to speculation about his political future.
“Kamala Harris would be a great governor,” Bonta said in an interview with Politico. “I would support her if she ran. I’ve always supported her in everything she’s done. She would be field-clearing,” he added, noting that he has not spoken directly with Harris about a potential run for governor.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited and cannot run for re-election in 2026, has been a prominent figure in California politics. Harris, who previously served as San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general, and U.S. senator before becoming vice president, has been the subject of much speculation since her defeat in the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump.
Sources close to Harris say no decisions have been made about her next steps. However, in a video message to the Democratic National Committee during its winter meeting last weekend, Harris pledged to stand with the party “every step of the way,” signaling that she still harbors political ambitions.
The Democratic field for governor in the heavily blue-leaning state is already crowded. Among the candidates are Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, a Harris ally, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Former Rep. Katie Porter, who unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic Senate nomination last year, has also expressed interest in launching a campaign. Additionally, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who served in Congress and as California attorney general before joining the Biden administration, is seen as a potential contender.
Paul Steinhauser, a politics reporter based in New Hampshire, contributed to this report.
