Democrats Regret Kamala Harris Skipping California Governor Race for Possible 2028 Presidential Bid

Many Democrats wish former Vice President Kamala Harris had run for governor of California instead of considering another presidential bid in 2028, according to a New York Times report.

The Times highlighted regrets over Harris's choice in a story titled "A California Dream? Some Democrats Fear Harris Picked the Wrong Race," as a crowded field of Democratic candidates splits votes in the state's hotly contested gubernatorial contest.

"Maybe, they say, she should have run for governor instead of publicly pondering a third run for president," the Times noted.

California's open primary system pits candidates from both parties against each other. Two candidates from the same party could advance to the general election. Republican votes are split among just two contenders, while eight Democrats divide theirs, raising concerns among some party members about a possible Republican governor.

The Times cited "The View" co-host Sunny Hostin, who last month urged Harris to pursue state politics over national ambitions. "California, it’s like running a country," Hostin said. "I know that she’s talked about being president — I don’t know if that’s the right position for her — but my goodness, she certainly knows California."

Harris instead has toured the country promoting her book and recently said she "might" seek the presidency again in 2028. That has frustrated some party loyalists who view the governor's race as a surer path.

Harris drew strong Democratic support when she became the party's 2024 nominee after President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign. But some voters have turned against her since.

Matt Bennett, co-founder of the Democratic think tank Third Way, told the Times that Harris would have excelled as governor. In a presidential race, though, she would carry "a real burden" of defending the party's record. "It’s conceivable that she could craft a message," he said. "But she’s got a lot of explaining to do."

"It’s pretty obvious she would have dominated the race," said Lara Bergthold, a California political consultant. "It felt like it was an easy win and an easy walk into the governor’s mansion here." Still, Bergthold added, "I get the feeling that she wants to play on the national stage."

No clear Democratic frontrunner has emerged after former Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped his campaign and resigned from Congress amid sexual misconduct allegations. Rusty Hicks, chairman of California's Democratic Party, has called on candidates to "honestly assess" whether to stay in the race.

Democratic strategist David Axelrod compared the contest to "a high-stakes NASCAR race where the cars aren’t going very fast, but running each other off the road before one rushes to the front at the end."

Fox News Digital contacted Harris's office but received no immediate response.