As Vice President Kamala Harris prepares to step down from office, many are left wondering: What’s next for her? It’s been a rollercoaster year for Harris, and with the future uncertain, her team of advisers and close allies are having some serious discussions about her next move.
Could she run for president in 2028? Maybe. After all, President-elect Trump will be ineligible to run, opening the door for new contenders. Or, perhaps she might go for a governor’s seat in her home state of California. There’s even a possibility that she could step away from the political stage entirely.
Right now, her team is split. “Should she run for another office? If so, which one?” one ally shared, revealing that the decision isn’t straightforward. Harris has spent over two decades in public service, and it seems she’s still thinking about her next step.
One thing is clear: Harris isn’t ready to quit. Many of her advisers have been asking, “Why wouldn’t she run again?” A recent gathering at the Naval Observatory showed that Harris’s closest allies believe she still has plenty to offer. “This isn’t the end of her public career,” one ally said, “It’s just who she is.”
Since conceding the election to Trump, Harris has kept a relatively low profile, focusing on reflection rather than interviews. But, as sources close to her mention, she’s been processing the past few months and will soon have time to think about what comes next.
In the meantime, Harris is working on something major: writing a book. Literary agent Keith Urbahn claims that she’s set to land the biggest book deal ever for a vice president, but the real question is whether the book can redefine her path towards a potential 2028 campaign.
Meanwhile, her husband, Doug Emhoff, is making moves to return to the private sector, considering new opportunities, potentially in New York.
Some, like Jamal Simmons, a former communications director for Harris, suggest she take a breather before deciding anything. “She’s been on the fastest treadmill—she needs time to relax and reconnect with family and friends,” he advises. After all, making any long-term commitment right away might not be the best idea.
Still, there are voices in Harris’s circle who caution against running for governor, suggesting it might hurt her long-term prospects. A key concern? A possible loss could end her political career.
Yet, some prominent Democratic donors believe the gubernatorial race might be a better option than running for president again, given Harris’s recent loss to Trump. One donor expressed doubts about her chances in a primary race, especially after her losses in key swing states.
If she decides to pursue the presidency, she could face stiff competition—most notably from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who’s long been seen as a presidential contender. Despite his struggles with wildfires in the state, Newsom shares many advisers with Harris. But her allies are confident: “Everyone who wants to run for president should run,” said one of her supporters, adding, “It’s like the lottery—you’ve got to play to win.”
As the 2028 race begins to shape up, many other names will likely join the fray, including Governors Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan), JB Pritzker (Illinois), Andy Beshear (Kentucky), and Josh Shapiro (Pennsylvania), as well as Senator John Fetterman, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Regardless of what Harris decides, the shift from vice president to private life won’t be easy. Having spent nearly her entire career in public service—from district attorney to attorney general, to senator, and finally vice president—the transition will be significant.
For Harris, the next chapter is still unwritten, but one thing’s for sure: this isn’t the last we’ll hear from her.
