Kamala Harris, the ex-Vice President, is finding herself in a challenging position as she ponders over the idea of taking a shot at the role of California’s next governor. The notion of Harris potentially vying for governorship rests on the presumption she would have a smooth sailing, but this is far from guaranteed. Harris is expected to commit to a full term in office if she runs for governor, consequently abandoning her aspirations for the 2028 presidency. This optimistic scenario envisions the existing field of Democrats thinning promptly to grant her an easy ‘top two’ finish in the primary elections by next June. Interestingly, her potential opponents could be either a Republican-converted-Democrat, such as the previously unsuccessful mayoral candidate Rick Caruso, or Chad Bianco, the extremist Sheriff of Riverside County.
The much-anticipated set-up wherein Harris finds herself securing an easy path to candidacy has some serious doubts clouding it. Looking at the current developments, none of the prospective Democratic primary contenders seem keen on exiting the race swiftly. While she can derive some satisfaction from being the early front-runner, with a whopping 24 percent support as per a UC Irvine School of Social Ecology poll, her advantage might be temporal. When pitted hypothetically against an unspecified Republican candidate, her lead narrows to just 41-29 percent – a staggeringly large number of voters remain undecided.
The indecisiveness among voters isn’t a new problem for Harris. It was the same sect of undecided voters that almost cost her the 2010 state attorney general race against then-Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley. Fast forward to 2016, unexpected decisions by previously undecided voters made her Senate race against Democratic Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, far more competitive than expected. Replicating the trend, last-minute choices of the previously undecided in several states lost her the presidency against Donald Trump. Given this history, it’s possible that Harris could be stepping into a tough race and might even risk ending her chances of ever becoming president.
Securing the solo Democratic position in the November 2026 runoff might not be a breeze for Harris. Early polling results show her leading the second-place Democrat, former Orange County Congresswoman Katie Porter, by a 4-1 margin. However, these polls have often proven to be misleading. While it’s likely that some potential contenders, like Antonio Villaraigosa, former LA Mayor, Xavier Becerra, former federal Health Secretary, and others, might withdraw from the race, there are those who are expected to stick around and pose a major challenge to Harris.
A glimpse into history further substantiates the troubles Harris faces when met with formidable competition, reference her early withdrawal from the 2020 Democratic presidential race. Although Dean Jon Gould of UC Irvine’s Social Ecology program inked an optimistic picture, stating, ‘The path to governor seems well-paved for Vice President Harris if she decides to run’. However, others beg to differ and doubts still linger about this seemingly straightforward path.
Rick Caruso, in particular, might view these poll results as an encouraging sign – the weaknesses of Harris serving to boost his own chances. If he secures a ‘top two’ position in the primaries, he could likely see Harris as an easy target, much like Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Bass is currently facing criticism due to her action during wildfire warnings ahead of the last winter’s Los Angeles area firestorms.
Holding debates has not always been Harris’s strong suit. Caruso, given the opportunity, would likely attempt to paint Harris as a mirror image of Bass during the debates. Despite such hurdles, Harris’s current status as a poll leader might tempt her to enter the race. The concern that remains, however, is her lack of demonstrated commitment to vital California issues such as homelessness or insurance regulations and performance. As of now, Harris’s participation in this pivotal race seems more like a hypothetical marked with a plethora of question marks.
The post Harris Ponders Over Governorship, Aims to Fail Like Previous Stints? appeared first on Real News Now.
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