Former Vice President Kamala Harris left the door wide open for another presidential campaign, telling the BBC that she expects a woman will occupy the Oval Office in coming years and it could possibly be her, marking her strongest indication yet that she may mount a third bid for the White House.
Harris, sixty-one years old, emphasized that she is not done with public service and dismissed suggestions that she would face long odds in another campaign. She told the Associated Press that she has not decided whether to run in twenty twenty-eight, stating sincerely that she may or may not pursue the presidency again, though she acknowledged it is a job she wanted to do and noted that the only way to do it is to run and win.
"I am not done. I have lived my entire career as a life of service and it's in my bones. I've never listened to polls."
The comments came during a series of interviews promoting her campaign memoir titled One Hundred Seven Days, which examines her experience replacing President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee after he dropped out of the race. She ultimately lost to Republican Donald Trump in the general election, though she sees herself as a leader of the party moving forward, including in pushing back against Trump and preparing for the twenty twenty-six midterm elections.
Harris's book sparked tensions with potential twenty twenty-eight rivals by offering unflattering assessments of other Democrats who could face her on a debate stage. She expressed disappointment with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's detailed questions about his vice presidential role, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's hesitation in endorsing her candidacy, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's debate performance against JD Vance, which she described as watching him fall for fake bipartisanship.
Political jockeying among Democrats for the twenty twenty-eight presidential contest appears to be playing out earlier than usual, with several potential candidates already taking steps to get to know voters in key states. California Governor Gavin Newsom, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and California Representative Ro Khanna are among those positioning themselves, with upward of thirty high-profile Democrats potentially entering the primary.
Harris ruled out running for California governor in twenty twenty-six to replace the term-limited Newsom, saying her leadership and public service will not be in elected office for now. However, her recent media appearances and willingness to discuss future political ambitions suggest she has not abandoned her presidential aspirations despite the electoral defeat that ended her abbreviated campaign just months ago.
Senator Mark Kelly told NBC News that Harris could be an incredibly strong candidate in twenty twenty-eight, though he expects a crowded presidential primary field on both sides of the aisle. The former vice president called Trump a tyrant during her BBC interview and said predictions she made on the campaign trail about the likely impact of his administration have come true, signaling her intention to remain a prominent voice in opposition politics regardless of whether she ultimately decides to seek the presidency again.