Former Vice President Kamala Harris announced Wednesday that she will not run for governor of California in 2026, ending months of speculation and clearing the way for a wide-open Democratic primary in the nation’s most populous state.
“In recent months, I have given serious thought to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their Governor,” Harris said in a prepared statement. “But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for Governor in this election.”
Harris, who has held statewide office in California as attorney general and later as U.S. senator, emphasized her ongoing commitment to public service — but outside elected office for now. “I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly,” she said.
The announcement comes less than a year after her defeat to President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. While Harris did not address whether she is considering a run in 2028, a person close to her said future announcements are forthcoming — and “they’re not about 2028.”
With Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom term-limited in 2026, a potential gubernatorial run by Harris carried a lot of weight with race. Donors held off on giving to candidates, which has stopped many candidates from building momentum. This news busts the race wide open.
Now, a growing list of Democrats is expected to vie for the open seat. Declared or likely candidates include Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former Rep. Katie Porter, former state Senate President Toni Atkins, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and others. Despite lacking Harris’s national profile, several of these candidates have begun quietly organizing and raising money behind the scenes.
On the Republican side, former Trump administration official Ric Grenell has teased interest but has not officially declared. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News contributor Steve Hilton are both in the race, though neither has polled competitively in recent surveys.
Harris’s decision adds a new layer of uncertainty to the 2026 race. For Democrats, it is both a release valve and a political reset: an opportunity for a new generation of California leadership to step forward — and for the party to test how it navigates a post-Harris, post-Newsom landscape in a state where national ambitions often begin.
