Kamala Harris for governor of California? It could happen. – Daily News

For many of the early and teenage years of this century, Kamala Harris was one of many weakest of vote-getters in Democratic-dominated California, even whereas she held three electoral workplaces in succession.

Her marginal vote-getting performances have been largely glossed over since she turned President Biden’s backup as vice chairman.

However what occurs if the Biden-Harris ticket loses this fall and Harris is left with out public workplace for the primary time in 22 years? Harris may have simply turned 60 a few weeks earlier than Election Day, an age when many politicians are simply getting began and virtually precisely 30 years youthful than former U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein was when she died in workplace.

Not precisely a retirement state of affairs. And but, if she and Biden lose, Harris would have a number of proving to do about her electoral enchantment earlier than she might even take into consideration operating for President once more, as she briefly did in 2020.

Enter California’s broad open 2026 race for governor. What higher venue for Harris to show she has change into a way more potent politician than she ever was earlier than?

The race is already considerably crowded, with the likes of Lt. Gov. Elena Kounalakis, former state Senate President Toni Atkins, former state Controller Betty Yee and present state Faculties Supt. Tony Thurmond now operating. Different potential entrants embody Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta, former Atty. Gen. and present federal Well being and Human Companies Secretary Xavier Becerra and really probably, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, the lone important Republican risk for the time being.

Harris’ present prominence and better identify recognition would instantly propel her to the forefront of that subject, and it may be sufficient to get her into the runoff election two years from now beneath the state’s High Two “jungle main” system. She would even have the providers of the identical marketing campaign consultants who’ve helped present Gov. Gavin Newsom to win after win, gaining nationwide prominence within the course of.

However would Harris then be ripe for an upset? That’s the place her earlier nondescript polling report might change into related.

When she ran for district legal professional of San Francisco in 2003, she misplaced within the main to unpopular incumbent Terence Hallinan, however later beat him in a runoff. She then was unopposed for reelection in 2007.

When she ran for California legal professional common in 2010, within the final state election earlier than the appearance of High Two, Harris simply received the Democratic main, however Republican rival Steve Cooley, then the Los Angeles district legal professional, virtually upset her regardless of the Democrats’ large voter registration benefit. She received by simply 6,000 votes out of 9.6 million forged, the end result not decided till greater than three weeks after the final vote was forged.

Simply reelected later, she set her sights on the Senate seat as soon as held by Democrat Barbara Boxer and drew a Democrat for her runoff opponent. Harris simply beat former Orange County Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, however nonetheless bought solely 39 % of the first vote earlier than easing via the runoff with 61 %.

Altogether, that’s an underwhelming efficiency on this closely Democratic state.

However Harris has emerged these days because the Biden Administration’s high spokesperson on abortion, barnstorming the nation to remind voters – particularly girls – that ex-President Donald Trump is liable for as we speak’s patchwork state-by-state image on the process. That’s by advantage of his having named three conservative Supreme Court docket justices, all of whom voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.