Overview

• Kamala Harris remains undecided on a 2026 run for California governor and has set a late-summer deadline to make her decision.
• Leading Democratic contenders, including Katie Porter and Antonio Villaraigosa, have publicly demanded clarity or urged Harris to step aside.
• A gubernatorial bid could complicate Harris’s potential 2028 presidential aspirations by forcing her to choose between state leadership and a national campaign.
• Republican hopefuls are already shaping fundraising appeals and campaign messages around Harris’s high-profile record to nationalize the contest.
• California’s next governor must address a projected $12 billion budget shortfall, extensive wildfire recovery and preparations for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.