Isabella Carter
Kamala Harris, the 49th vice president of the United States, launched her 2024 presidential campaign on July 21, 2024, after Joe Biden withdrew his bid for reelection and endorsed her. Harris, a member of the Democratic Party, was the first female U.S. vice president and the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history. She ran on a platform that supported national abortion protections, LGBT+ rights, stricter gun control, and legislation to address climate change. Harris ultimately lost the election to the Republican nominees, former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance. There are speculations that Harris is considering a run for California governor in 2026 and may embark on a second presidential campaign in 2028.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of search | 26 March 2025 |
| Kamala Harris's political experience | District Attorney of San Francisco, Attorney General of California, United States Senator, Vice President of the United States |
| Harris's popularity in polls | High in March 2025 |
| Harris's popularity in polls | Running against Donald Trump in November 2024, Harris was slightly ahead |
| Harris's popularity in betting odds | In November 2024, Harris was slightly favoured to win |
| Harris's popularity in predictions | In September 2024, Allan Lichtman predicted Harris would win |
| Outcome of 2024 election | Harris lost to Trump |
| Harris's plans for the future | Mulling running for governor of California |
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What You'll Learn
Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential campaign
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the United States, launched her presidential campaign in 2024. Harris, who also served as a United States Senator, Attorney General of California, and District Attorney of San Francisco, was the Democratic Party's nominee for the presidential election that year.
Harris's campaign got off to a strong start, with the candidate enjoying support from prominent Democratic figures such as Bill and Hillary Clinton, who offered their endorsement. However, Barack Obama, the 44th president, opted to wait before endorsing her, wanting to avoid the appearance of a coronation and favouring an open primary. Despite this, Harris's team was confident and had recruited people with no direct connection to the vice president to help with the campaign.
On Election Day, it was a tight race between Harris and her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump. National polls showed Harris with a slight advantage, but it was still too close to call. The final poll before Election Day gave Harris a narrow edge of 48.0% to Trump's 46.8%. Despite this, Harris's team became increasingly concerned as the night went on, and they realized they were down in the "blue wall" states and wouldn't be able to make up the difference.
In the end, Harris was defeated by Trump, who made the biggest comeback in American political history. Harris's aides described the moment the race was called for Trump, with one aide recalling that they sent people home and then asked for a confidant to deliver the news to the faithful at Howard University. Harris's reaction to her defeat was one of shock, reportedly asking, "Oh, my God. What is going to happen to this country?"
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Harris's popularity in polls
Kamala Harris, the former vice president of the United States, has been the subject of various polls gauging her popularity and approval ratings. In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, Harris was a strong contender for the Democratic nomination, and polls reflected a tight race between her and the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.
While Harris generally trailed Trump in national polls, the margins were consistently narrow, indicating a competitive contest. In July 2024, an aggregate of 80 polls compiled by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ placed Trump at 47.8% and Harris at 45.7%, a difference within the margin of error, suggesting the race was effectively tied. This trend represented momentum for Harris, who gained ground after Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race.
In battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia, Trump maintained a slim lead, often within error margins. However, in Wisconsin, one survey showed Harris and Trump tied at 47% each. Harris's popularity among Black voters and her endorsements from prominent Democratic figures, including Biden and the Clintons, contributed to her momentum.
Despite the close race, Harris ultimately lost the 2024 election to Trump. On Election Day, multiple polls indicated a neck-and-neck contest, with one final poll giving Harris a slight edge of 48.0% to Trump's 46.8%. However, the results culminated in a victory for Trump, marking a significant comeback for him and a disappointing outcome for Harris and the Democrats.
In March 2025, a poll on who Democrats wanted as their presidential candidate found Harris to be the dominant choice, with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) in third place. However, some donors expressed uncertainty about Harris's future prospects, and one anonymous donor stated that Harris was "done" at the top of the ticket.
In addition to her presidential aspirations, Harris has also considered running for governor of California, a decision that has sparked interest among her potential rivals and consultants within the Democratic Party. While Harris's popularity and poll performance have fluctuated, she remains a prominent figure in American politics, with her future endeavours being closely watched.
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Harris's reaction to losing the 2024 election
On 5 November 2024, Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States, lost the presidential election to former president Donald Trump. Harris's reaction to her loss was one of shock and dismay. As the results came in, Harris gathered with her family in the front of the house while her campaign team monitored the returns in the back. When her campaign chief of staff, O'Malley Dillon, realised there was no path to victory, she called Harris to deliver the bad news. Harris's response was a shocked "Oh, my God. What is going to happen to this country?"
Harris's team had been confident in their candidate, with one insider commenting that the campaign had a "kumbaya cohesion" to it. However, as the evening wore on and the realisation set in that it would be a difficult night, a photographer and videographer, who were supposed to capture Harris's victory speech, were sent home.
Harris's loss to Trump was seen as a stunning defeat for the Democrats, with one aide commenting that the party had lost touch with the people. Harris's campaign had been plagued by questions of her qualifications and preparedness for the presidency, and her loss was attributed in part to these doubts.
In the immediate aftermath of her defeat, Harris called on prominent Democratic figures, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, and former president Barack Obama, for support and endorsements. Despite her loss, Harris remained a prominent figure in Democratic politics, with polls in 2025 showing her as a favourite for the 2028 Democratic primary.
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Harris's campaign team
The campaign's first week involved discreetly recruiting individuals with no direct ties to the vice president. They also reached out to prominent Democratic figures, such as Bill and Hillary Clinton, who offered their endorsement, and Barack Obama, who preferred to delay his endorsement to encourage a primary process. Harris's team faced challenges, including managing expectations and interpreting polling data, as they navigated a complex political landscape.
On election night, as results poured in, Harris's campaign chief of staff, Voles, and other key members monitored returns, while O'Malley Dillon led a data-crunching team at a separate location. Despite their efforts, the realization set in that it would be a difficult night for the campaign. Harris's team, including Cedric Richmond, a close confidant, had to accept the outcome of a Trump victory, marking the end of their presidential aspirations for Harris.
Looking beyond the 2024 election, Harris has been the subject of speculation for a potential run for governor of California, a decision she is reportedly considering with a self-imposed deadline of the end of the summer. This has sparked mixed reactions, with some calling for her to declare her intentions sooner and others acknowledging her luxury of time.
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Harris's future political career
Kamala Harris's future political career has been the subject of much speculation. In 2024, Harris was the Democratic candidate for president, with sources detailing the highs and lows of her campaign and the final election night. In a tight race, Harris ultimately lost to Donald Trump, who made the greatest comeback in American political history.
In the aftermath of the election, Harris's team reportedly began laying the groundwork for a future presidential run. In March 2025, Harris dominated a poll on who Democrats wanted as their presidential candidate, although some party donors expressed pessimism about the next election and were reluctant to back any one candidate.
Harris has also been rumoured to be considering a run for governor of California, with a deadline of the end of summer 2025 to make a decision. This has caused some consternation among her potential rivals, who have called on her to declare her intentions as soon as possible.
While Harris's future plans remain uncertain, her political career has been characterised by breaking barriers, having served as the District Attorney of San Francisco, Attorney General of California, United States Senator, and Vice President of the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
Kamala Harris ran for president in 2024, losing to Donald Trump in a tight race.
No, Kamala Harris did not become president.
Yes, Kamala Harris served as vice president to Joe Biden.
It is unclear whether Kamala Harris will run for president again in 2028. She is reportedly considering running for governor of California.
Kamala Harris's campaign team included Stephanie Schriock, the former head of Emily's List, and a veteran Democratic operative. She also had the support of Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama (though he wanted to wait a few days before endorsing her).
