As Los Angeles convulses with nightly protests and rising political tensions, former Vice President Kamala Harris is watching closely — both as a concerned Californian and a seasoned political operator weighing her next move. Her private calls to Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom, coupled with a pointed public rebuke of President Trump’s National Guard deployment, have reignited speculation: is Harris preparing for a comeback?
According to multiple sources familiar with her recent activity, Harris is in a deliberate “will-she-or-won’t-she” phase, exploring a return to public office. That could mean a run for California governor, or — less likely but still possible — another White House bid. Her team insists that the late-summer decision timeline remains unchanged, even as the ground shifts underfoot.
This calculated pause contrasts with the urgency of the moment. Riots in Harris’s home state have escalated, and Trump’s high-profile clash with California over federal control has thrust the state’s leadership into national focus. That spotlight, once hers, now shines on Newsom, her longtime political frenemy.
Since leaving Washington, Harris has chosen her public moments carefully. But her recent social media post calling Trump’s military intervention a “cruel, calculated decision to spread panic and division” marked a clear re-entry into the public fray. Insiders say this was no coincidence.
Harris’s message taps into three pillars of her public image:
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A Californian rooted in civil rights tradition, with personal ties to protest movements.
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A former prosecutor who has long framed herself as a protector of the rule of law.
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A former vice president who understands federal-state power dynamics better than most.
In short, the unrest gave her the perfect stage to reassert relevance — without making a formal move.
For Harris allies, Trump’s attacks on California are more than a crisis — they’re a political gift. As one backer put it:
“If she was worried that her becoming governor might put a bigger target on California, the last week took that question off the table. We’ve got a helluva target on us no matter who the governor is.”
The thinking is clear: Trump is already treating the state as a political punching bag. If Harris enters the fray, she won’t be raising the stakes — just stepping into a fight that’s already underway.
This dynamic plays both ways. If she runs for governor, her anti-Trump credentials make her an immediate frontrunner. If she aims higher, Newsom’s rising profile complicates her path. As Democratic strategist Steve Maviglio noted, “There’s enhanced competition if she does decide to run for president.”
