Democrats are already signaling deep reservations about Vice President Kamala Harris as a standard-bearer in 2028, exposing a rift inside a party still reeling from its 2024 defeat and searching for a viable future leader.
According to the New York Post, a series of recent interviews conducted by NOTUS, a nonprofit digital news outlet, revealed that many prominent Democrats are unwilling to publicly back Harris as the partys next presidential nominee. Their reluctance underscores a broader anxiety among liberals about whether the vice president, who has struggled to connect with voters and failed to deliver key electoral wins, can credibly lead the ticket in four years time.
California Sen. Adam Schiff, often seen as a loyal party soldier, declined to offer even a token endorsement, saying only: Thats her decision. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren adopted a similar posture of studied distance, avoiding any expression of enthusiasm for a Harris candidacy.
Im so focused on 2026, Im just not there. I dont have any thoughts about 2028, Warren said, brushing aside the question of Harriss future. Others were more forthright about the unsettled nature of the coming primary landscape and their unwillingness to commit early.
I cant support anybody right now. Its way too early. Weve got to see what the field offers, Louisiana Rep. Troy Carter said, capturing a sentiment that suggests Democrats are actively shopping for alternatives. Behind the scenes, some party members are even blunter, voicing doubts that go beyond timing and into Harriss fundamental viability as a nominee.
One anonymous House Democrat told NOTUS they would have preferred Harris pursue a gubernatorial path instead, adding, I dont think Im alone in this view, that I would have real concerns about her being the nominee. Another Democrat warned that while Harriss national profile makes her an obvious contender, Is that a good thing for the party and the country (if shes) the nominee? No.
Those misgivings are rooted in hard electoral math. In the 2024 US presidential election Harris lost all seven swing states and performed poorly in several traditionally Democratic states; Trump improved on his 2020 margin in all 50 states and Washington, DC.
Harris only became the Democratic nominee after then-President Joe Biden abruptly dropped out just 107 days before the general election, leaving the party scrambling. She has since floated the idea of another run, despite the bruising loss and the skepticism now swirling around her.
I might. I am thinking about it, Harris said at the National Action Network convention earlier this month when asked about another run, her third, at the White House. That comment has fueled speculation that the vice president sees herself as the natural heir to the partys leadership, even as many Democrats appear unconvinced.
Not all voices within the party are doubtful, however, and some are eager to rally behind her. Texas Rep. Sylvia Garcia offered one of the few unequivocal endorsements of Harriss potential candidacy.
She deserves a shot, especially when you see who is considering it on both sides of the aisles. She is better than all the rest, Garcia said, framing Harris as preferable to the growing cast of would-be contenders. In America, anyone can run. The real question is, can they win? Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson similarly added, highlighting the electability question that looms over the vice president.
Other Democrats argue that the party should not anoint anyone and instead embrace a competitive primary that could expose weaknesses early. Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin stressed that a real contest would be healthy for Democrats heading into 2028.
I think lots of people are considering running, and I think that having to run the gauntlet through a competitive primary is a good thing, she said, implicitly signaling that Harris should not expect a coronation. Even Republicans are watching the drama with a mix of amusement and strategic interest.
Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy, never one to miss an opportunity for a jab, joked, If she does run, I think we should all contribute to her campaign. He added with characteristic sarcasm, I think that I will start a 501(c)(4) right now to encourage my friend, the vice president, to saddle up and ride hard.
Compounding Harriss problems are early warning signs from her own backyard. A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies survey found Harris trailing several potential Democratic contenders, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who led with 28% support.
Harris garnered just 9%, placing her behind figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. For conservatives, those numbers reinforce a broader narrative: a Democratic Party led by Harris would be doubling down on the same progressive instincts and identity politics that have already alienated swing voters, leaving Republicans confident that if Democrats insist on elevating her again, they may be setting themselves up for another painful lesson at the ballot box.
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