California Republicans are quietly hoping Vice President Kamala Harris runs for governor in 2026, believing her candidacy could nationalize the race and give GOP candidates a rare fundraising opportunity in a deep-blue state.
Harris brings major advantages: near-total name recognition, a massive national fundraising network, and strong ties to California’s political elite, making her a dominant figure who could easily clear the Democratic primary field.
GOP strategists say her presence on the ballot could energize Republican donors, much like high-profile races against figures such as Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy, or Devin Nunes in the past, where opposition alone fueled massive fundraising drives.
Jessica Millan Patterson, former chair of the California Republican Party, admitted it would still be a steep climb for the GOP to win a statewide race, but said Harris would give donors a reason to re-engage in California politics.
Several Republican consultants and fundraisers echoed that sentiment, noting that the usual donor apathy in California stems from the state’s solidly Democratic control but Harris could shake that up.
In her past statewide campaigns for attorney general and U.S. Senate, Harris successfully tapped into both national and California-based donor networks, raising vast sums of money that would likely overwhelm any GOP challenger.
Democrats already lining up for 2026 include former Rep. Katie Porter, former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, and current Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, though many would likely bow out if Harris enters the race.
Democratic strategist Dan Newman, who worked with Harris’ former political team, said flatly, “Republicans can’t win statewide,” and that if Harris is vulnerable at all, it wouldn’t be from the right.
A May poll from the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies found President Trump’s approval rating in California sitting at just 30%, despite his stronger-than-expected 2024 performance nationally further complicating any Republican’s chances.
A veteran GOP fundraiser, speaking anonymously, acknowledged Trump’s negative impact on Republican fortunes in California, especially in races that draw national attention. “You have as many people who are just enraged by Trump as you do who think Democrats are ruining the state.”
Republicans argue that even if Harris wins the governor’s race easily, they’ll benefit from the months-long spotlight to attack her and the broader Democratic record, especially on crime, housing, and immigration.
GOP consultant Kevin Spillane, who ran the campaign against Harris in her 2010 attorney general race, said, “She has a chance to be embarrassed even if she wins… It could be a pyrrhic victory.”
While Harris is still weighing her options, her candidacy could reshape not just the governor’s race but the political dynamics of California offering a rare glimmer of relevance to a GOP otherwise shut out of statewide power.