Add The California Post on Google Former Vice President Kamala Harris is popping up across the US to stump for candidates in battleground states — but many see her support as more of a curse than a gift.
As Harris looks to strengthen her national profile ahead of a potential 2028 run for the White House, candidates in competitive races from Alaska to Wisconsin have signaled they don’t need or want the California Democrat campaigning for them, Politico reported.
In Kansas, Democratic Senate nominee Adam Hamilton said it doesn’t make sense for someone with a Golden State of mind to hit America’s heartland.
“Having somebody from California come in and try to tell Kansans who they should vote for is a pretty bad idea,” he told the publication.
Harris, who lost to President Trump in the 2024 presidential election, is still increasingly connected to the Democratic Party’s national brand, which remains unpopular with voters despite Trump’s ratings also dropping.
Her favorability numbers at the end of last year stood at just 42 percent, according to a YouGov poll.
That has led some swing-district Democrats to view Harris’ efforts as unhelpful.
Rebecca Cooke, who is aiming to unseat Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin, said Harris should keep her distance, despite the candidate welcoming endorsements from other potential 2028 contenders, like Pete Buttigieg.
“I received 9,000 more votes than Harris in 2024,” Cooke said in a statement to Politico. “I don’t need anyone to come and campaign with me in my district. I do the work of building relationships — including across the aisle — on my own.”
In Alaska, where Democratic former Rep. Mary Peltola is gaining ground on the Republican-held Senate seat, the candidate rejected any association with Harris after the former VP wrote a fundraising email urging the public to “help Mary Peltola get the support she needs.”
“Mary isn’t seeking endorsements from anyone from the Lower 48 — her focus is and always will be Alaska,” a Peltola campaign spokeswoman said.
Some Dems have been explicit in rejecting Harris’ advancements. Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, who is in a surprisingly tight race for governor in a Trump-voting state, told Politico in an interview that she’s irrelevant.
“Let’s move on. We need some new leadership,” Sand said.
When asked if he thought Harris should run for president again, he stated: “No.”
On a Thursday appearance on MS NOW, the former vice president said her sole focus was on getting more Democrats elected.
“Bottom line, we need to win,” she said. “I have run locally. I’ve run for statewide office and obviously nationally and these candidates know what they need to do to win and I would expect nothing less.”
She added: “I look forward to being on the trail and helping folks where I can be helpful, but we have got to put a check on this lawless administration.”
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