Kamala Harris made an unannounced appearance at a leadership summit for Black women in California on Thursday, signaling that her political journey is far from over despite her loss to President Trump in the 2024 election.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Harris told the crowd during a brief but pointed speech at the Leading Women Defined event. Her remarks were met with loud applause, underscoring her enduring popularity among key Democratic constituencies.
Harris, who represented California in the U.S. Senate before serving as vice president under Joe Biden, is widely believed to be considering a run for governor of California in 2026. A formal decision is expected before the end of summer.
Her potential entry into the race would immediately make her the Democratic frontrunner. A February poll from Emerson College, Inside California Politics, and The Hill found that nearly 60% of likely Democratic primary voters would support Harris if she jumped into the contest.
The race to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom who is term-limited has already drawn high-profile names. Just this week, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra officially launched his gubernatorial campaign, becoming the first major candidate to enter the field.
While Harris didn’t confirm her plans, she didn’t rule them out either. She also avoided any direct mention of President Trump in her speech, but made a pointed reference to the anxiety many Americans have felt since his return to the White House earlier this year.
“There were many things that we knew would happen, many things,” Harris said, alluding to warnings she and others made during the 2024 campaign.
With a knowing smile, she added, “I’m not here to say, ‘I told you so,’” as the audience responded with cheers and laughter. “I swore I wasn’t going to say that.”
The speech, though brief, was one of Harris’s most visible public appearances since leaving office in January. It comes at a time when many Democrats are reflecting on the future direction of the party and who might emerge as its next generation of leaders.
If Harris does decide to run for governor, she would enter the race with a national profile, significant fundraising potential, and strong support from core Democratic voting blocs. But she would also face scrutiny over her time in the vice presidency and the Biden administration’s record especially from those still assessing what went wrong in 2024.
For now, though, Harris made one thing clear: she’s staying in the game and she intends to be a force in shaping what comes next.