The persistent decision of former Vice President Kamala Harris about whether to run for governor has other Democrats in the 2026 career, saying that the State needs leaders to intense now to protect the Californians and combat the destructive policies of President Trump.
The criticism of Harris's delayed decision, which is expected to arrive this summer, varies from sharp and direct to oblique and tortuous.
“The challenges faced by California are too big to wait for a candidate who wants to be late in the game,” said the former mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, who announced his governor campaign in July. “California is not a springboard for a higher charge.”
He pointed to the abbreviated and abbreviated campaign that Harris had in the 2024 presidential contest due to the decision of the then President Biden to withdraw from the race in the summer, months before the elections.
“This will not be a coronation,” he said in an interview this month. “You can't run at the end of the rainbow. We saw a 100 -day campaign. Look what brought us.”
The former representative Katie Porter of Irvine and the former head of Human Health and Services of the United States.
“No one should be waiting to lead. I think we must present a case at this time,” Porter said in a March interview, shortly after he asked Harris's possible entry into the race for his candidacy. “There is an incredible urgency in the field that I think extends in California and the political spectrum.”
Becerra made a similar point when she announced her candidacy at the beginning of April.
“Seeing what develops before our eyes made it clear that this is not a time to sit aside,” Becerra said in an interview.
The surveys show that Harris would become the first instantaneous broker if he decides to jump to the governor's career. Harris is not only known throughout the country as former vice president and presidential nominated, but has a well -established history of winning state races in California.
Harris is expected to make a decision at the end of summer, according to a source close to the former vice president.
The source pointed out Harris's experience as District Prosecutor of San Francisco, the State Attorney General and the American senator before being elected vice president in 2020.
“No one can question their commitment to public service and the people of California and our nation,” said this person. “Vice President's decisions will always focus on the best way to serve people.”
Harris's success in the state, his name recognition and his national donor base are among the reasons why many expected her to easily clear the field if she enters the governor's career.
“His inactivity as a possible candidate for governor has a very defined chilling effect on the ability to collect funds of all others,” said veteran Democratic strategist Darry Sragow. “Virtually all donors use any excuse that may not write a check … That would be aggravated by the fact that the imminent uncertain presence here is a very significant political player, presumably the most important political player in the democratic field.”
But other Democratic strategists in California point out that the patience of donors could eventually wear out at a time when the party is full of anguish due to the great controls they wrote in the 2024 elections, as well as the political decisions that arise from the White House of Trump.
Tracy Austin, an outstanding collection of Democratic funds based in Los Angeles that has ties with several candidates in the race, says that there is already a growing frustration in the donor community, not only for how long is making a decision, but also for the amount of money they spent in their 2024 presidential campaign, as well as broader concerns about the direction of the party.
Fund collection reports are not due until July, but candidates must inform donations of more than $ 5,000.
Villaraigosa leads the pack, with approximately $ 3.2 million of donors such as director Rob Reiner, the producer and television personality Ryan Seacrest and the former head of Walt Disney, Michael Eisner.
Other candidates have entered the race much more recently, and their footprint among donors who write large checks is much smaller. A little more than $ 215,000 for the Sheriff of the Republican County Chad Bianco; $ 133,400 for Porter.
The force of candidates among small dollars donors will not be visible for months.
Republicans are enjoying the possibility of Harris from entering the race. Bianco eliminated an appeal for fundraising with a line of message that invoked the name of Harris.
“Now, the threat that Democratic leadership represents for our communities is more serious than ever,” he wrote earlier this month. “That is because Kamala Harris is positioning himself to run for governor of California. Today, I ask you to help me defeat Kamala Harris radical in the race for the governor of California.”
Harris's potential candidacy was frequently raised during the state Republican party convention at the end of last month in Sacramento.
“Personally I think she is under her, but I appreciate it,” said the outgoing president of Jessica Millan Patterson's party to journalists. “I would love to see her on the ballot.”
Since he lost the 2024 elections before Trump, Harris has made few public appearances, visiting firefighters and volunteers in the devastating forest fires of the Los Angeles area, seeing Broadway plays in New York City and accepting a Naacp prize.
Harris has been circumspect during his few public appearances since he lost the presidential elections of 2024. On April 3, he made some of his most pointed comments since Trump assumed the position for a brief comments before a meeting of black business leaders, politicians and other prominent people.
Harris denounced the reversal of fundamental rights under the Trump administration and promised to remain active in the battle to safeguard constitutional protections.
“I'll see you around,” he promised. “I will not go anywhere.”
