Former Vice President Kamala Harris is set to deliver her first major public address since losing the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump, a moment that has sparked renewed debate about her future in national politics. Political observers have weighed in ahead of her speech, with some suggesting that her influence within the Democratic Party may be waning.
Since her defeat in November and Trump’s return to the presidency in January, Harris has largely stayed out of the political spotlight. Her low profile has paralleled a period of internal strife for the Democratic Party, which continues to grapple with leadership challenges, messaging struggles, and a loss of momentum following a sweeping Republican victory that returned control of the White House, Senate, and House to the GOP.
Despite Harris still polling as one of the better-known figures for a possible 2028 Democratic presidential bid alongside names like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gavin Newsom, and Pete Buttigieg party strategists remain skeptical about her chances of becoming a unifying figure.
She will deliver a keynote speech Wednesday evening at the 20th anniversary gala for Emerge America, a political organization focused on supporting women leaders. The event, held in San Francisco, marks her return to the public stage.
Asked whether Harris could rally Democrats behind her after the loss, Syracuse University political science professor Grant Reeher was blunt in his assessment. “In short, no,” he said. Reeher noted that while early polling may show Harris performing well, that likely reflects name recognition more than genuine support. He pointed out that influential Democrats including leaders like Nancy Pelosi have privately expressed that the top of the ticket in 2024, including Harris, contributed to the party’s failure.
“There’s little appetite to return to someone who lost to Donald Trump,” Reeher added, referencing the central argument President Biden made in 2024: that he alone had proven he could defeat Trump. “If I were advising Democrats for 2028, I’d tell them to look to leaders from the Midwest or interior states, and not double down on the coastal establishment or polarizing social issues.”
Columbia University professor Robert Y. Shapiro echoed the sentiment, saying Harris had been politically “damaged” by the 2024 loss and that Democratic leaders are unlikely to coalesce around her now. “Even if she delivers a strong speech, voters are already looking for new leadership,” he said. “There are others in the party who are beginning to generate more interest.”
While Harris’s upcoming remarks may stir some excitement among supporters, experts suggest that her long-term future in Democratic politics is uncertain and that the path forward will be difficult in a party hungry for new direction.