Kamala’s Coda: What’s Next For Defeated US VP Harris?
Following her loss to Donald Trump in the November election, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris faces a pivotal moment in her career. Despite having once been a strong contender to make history as the first woman to lead the country, the defeat left her with questions about her political future. In the aftermath, Harris has remained resolute, stating, “I am staying in the fight,” though the details of that fight remain unclear.
Political speculation is rampant in Washington about Harris’s next steps, with one possibility being a run for the governor’s office in California when current Governor Gavin Newsom steps down in 2026. A gubernatorial role in California, the world’s fifth-largest economy, would offer Harris an “enormous platform” to reassert herself as a prominent political figure, similar to how several former governors, including Ronald Reagan, used the position as a springboard to the presidency.
However, her 2024 loss may make her future candidacy for the White House more complicated. According to political scientist Julian Zelizer, the scale of her defeat raises doubts among some Democrats about her ability to lead the party to victory in a future presidential race. If she pursued the governorship, it might delay any potential presidential bid until 2032, given the typical duration of a governorship.
Harris could also take a path similar to that of former Vice President Al Gore, who continued to influence public life after his loss to George W. Bush in 2000. Gore became a key figure in the environmental movement, earning the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on climate change. Similarly, Harris could stay active in politics, using her platform for social causes or other national issues, even without holding a specific office. The coming years will likely reveal which direction she chooses, as the Democrat works to redefine her role in the political landscape.
