LOS ANGELES — The race to be California’s next governor became more focused July 30 when former Vice President Kamala Harris ended months of speculation by announcing she will not be a candidate to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom next year.
Harris’ decision not to enter the governor’s race leaves a wide open field in contention that includes former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and current state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond among Democrats seeking the post.
Villaraigosa and Thurmond are two out of several high-profile Democrats who have already entered the governor’s race. Others include former U.S. Rep and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter, current Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former state Controller Betty Yee, former state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins and entrepreneur Stephen Cloobeck.
Two Republicans — Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News host Steve Hilton — also have announced their candidacy.
Harris had reportedly been considering the governor’s race since she was defeated by Donald Trump in the presidential election last November.
In a statement July 30, Harris said: “I love this state, its people and its promise.”
“For now,” she added, “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.
“In the United States of America, power must lie with the people. And we, the people, must use our power to fight for freedom, opportunity, fairness and the dignity of all. I will remain in that fight.”
Harris did not give a specific reasoning behind her decision, but said, “I have extraordinary admiration and respect for those who dedicate their lives to public service — service to their communities and to our nation. At the same time, we must recognize that our politics, our government, and our institutions have too often failed the American people, culminating in this moment of crisis.
“As we look ahead, we must be willing to pursue change through new methods and fresh thinking — committed to our same values and principles, but not bound by the same playbook.”
Harris’ announcement immediately fueled speculation about a possible 2028 presidential bid. After serving as vice president under President Joe Biden, Harris lost her 2024 presidential run to now-President Donald Trump.
Harris also ran for the presidency in 2020, but withdrew from the race relatively early, later being tabbed by Biden as his running mate.
Mayor Karen Bass praised Harris in a social media post.
“The vice president has always made our city and our state proud and there is no doubt in my mind that whatever she does next will be rooted in service for the people,” Bass said.
U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach, also reacted to Harris’ announcement.
“Kamala Harris has served our state as attorney general, U.S. senator and vice president,” Garcia wrote on X. “We could not be more grateful. Excited about her hitting the road and traveling the country to help us flip the House and win back Congress.”
Two of the Democratic gubernatorial candidates also weighed in on Harris’ announcement.
“Kamala Harris is a focused leader and I’m proud of the work we accomplished together on consumer protections during the housing crisis and grateful for her service to California and our country,” Porter said in a statement. “I look forward to seeing her next accomplishments and continuing our work together.”
Becerra said: “The vice president and I have been together in this fight to restore the American dream for a long time — from when I succeeded her as California attorney general to when we served side by side in the president’s cabinet. She has always put working families first, and she continues to be a trailblazing leader in our country and for our party.”
Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff who is seeking the Republican’s nomination for governor, issued a statement calling Harris’ decision “the first right decision in a career full of wrong ones.”
“Californians are tired of living in an unsafe state they cannot afford, and Kamala seems to understand that the status quo is impossible to defend,” he said. “We need real leadership — grounded in public safety, common sense, and accountability — not more empty promises from the political elite. I’m running to fix what they broke.”
Kollin Crompton of the Republican Governors Association said Harris’ announcement means her “political career is over thanks to President Trump.”
“She would have been a disaster for California: tanking the state’s economy even further, protecting criminal illegal immigrants over law-abiding citizens, and further bringing the Democrat Party brand down with her, just like she did as vice president,” Crompton said. “Americans across the country can sigh in relief that they won’t have to see or hear from Kamala Harris any longer.”
More potential candidates may emerge before the final filing deadline early next year.
The June primary will be held next June 2. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the primary election, the general election featuring the top two overall vote-getters throughout the state, regardless of party affiliation, will face each other Nov. 3, 2026.
