Support for a 2028 presidential run for former Vice President Kamala Harris is dwindling, another bombshell report has revealed.
Political allies and former aides have all shied away from a full-throated endorsement of the failed 2024 presidential nominee, and now it seems her financial backers and sponsors feel the same way, the Los Angeles Times reported.
In scathing interviews from former fundraisers and donors who gave more than $1 million to her 2024 campaign, many seemed to look away rather than embrace her as a contender.
“I think it is too early to pick a favorite in the 2028 race, but Kamala Harris will not be my candidate,” one donor, who was granted anonymity, told the outlet. “I don’t think she would appeal to a swing voter, and we need swing voters to win.”
In 2024, Harris became the Democratic nominee for president just 107 days before the general election after an aging then-President Joe Biden was all but forced out following a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump, who went on to win the popular vote and sweep all seven battleground states.
“I don’t think it’s a helpful narrative [for 2028] to start with the 2024 hangover,” one anonymous fundraiser for Harris’s 2024 campaign said.
“There is an enormous appetite for new blood — something fresh, something that really represents the future, not the past.”
There are already many names being floated as possible Democratic contenders for the White House in 2028.
Harris, who ruled out a run for governor of her home state, has hinted at a possible presidential campaign, saying she “might” run.
But while she may be considering it, others in her circle — including former backers and supporters — may not be ready to line up behind her.
“She’s run, she’s lost, so the question’s going to be, is there somebody that gives Democratic voters more of a sense that they could win?” said Dick Harpootlian, a longtime South Carolina Democratic strategist. “That’s what all of us are looking for. We want to win in ‘28.”
South Carolina is considered a crucial Democratic “firewall” because its diverse electorate is seen as more representative of the party’s national base than early voting states like Iowa or New Hampshire.
Historically, it has served as a momentum-builder capable of rescuing struggling campaigns or cementing a front-runner’s path to the nomination.
One of that state’s most influential Democrats, Rep. James E. Clyburn — long viewed as a kingmaker in Democratic presidential politics — also appeared reluctant to rally behind Harris for another White House run.
“I’m not thinking about 2028, and if she were to call me I wouldn’t talk to her about it,” Clyburn said when asked about Harris’s chances.
Clyburn previously praised California Gov. Gavin Newsom as a strong future presidential contender, fueling speculation that some influential Democrats may already be looking beyond Harris for the next generation of party leadership.
He is not alone. Reed Hastings, the co-founder of Netflix, who gave $1 million to the pro-Harris super PAC Future Forward, also suggested he would rather support Newsom.
“Gavin is the candidate who can motivate both the left and the center,” Hastings said, referring to Newsom.
Several major donors either declined to publicly discuss Harris’ prospects, failed to respond to requests for comment, or indicated they were looking for a “fresh” face capable of energizing voters after Democrats’ bruising 2024 loss.
“There were others connected to Future Forward who felt the same way,” the report said.
“A lot of people love her and also don’t think that she is the answer for 2028,” one fundraiser added.
Some argue Harris carries too much political baggage after being tied to the Democrats’ 2024 defeat and fear voters may associate her with a losing campaign.
Despite the donor skepticism, Harris still maintains strong polling numbers among Democratic voters. A recent Harvard CAPS/Harris poll found she led the potential Democratic primary field with support from roughly half of Democratic respondents, suggesting grassroots voters may be more receptive to her candidacy than elite donors and strategists.
However, this is just one of several reports suggesting Democratic strategists, analysts, and former campaign surrogates are increasingly distancing themselves from Harris.
Some argue she carries a “real burden” of defending her past failures in Washington.
The Harris camp did not immediately return the California Post’s request for comment.
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