Jonah Patel
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the United States, lost the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump. Harris's defeat came as a surprise to many, including Democratic strategist James Carville, who had predicted her victory. In the aftermath of her loss, Harris has kept a relatively low profile, but she has hinted at a potential future run for office, either for the White House or as California's governor in 2026. Despite her loss, Harris's political career may not be over, and she could still have a significant impact on American politics in the years to come.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Outcome of 2024 election | Kamala Harris lost the 2024 election to Donald Trump |
| Future political career | Harris is considering running for California governor in 2026 or making another White House run |
| Public opinion | Democratic strategist James Carville believes Harris was a subpar candidate in 2024 but could be a "lot better candidate" in 2028 |
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What You'll Learn
Kamala Harris's 2024 election loss to Donald Trump
One factor in Harris's loss was the challenge of uniting the Democratic Party behind her, particularly given the shortened timeframe. Following Biden's withdrawal, Harris had a shorter period to introduce herself to voters and refine her message. Additionally, Harris faced criticism for her record as Attorney General of California, including her past positions on marijuana, cash bail, parole reform, and police misconduct.
Another factor was the effectiveness of Trump's campaign strategy. Trump focused on building a multi-ethnic working-class coalition, making gains among Latinos, African Americans, and young adults. He also invested heavily in negative advertising targeting Harris's stance on transgender rights, which may have undermined her image as a center-left candidate. Trump's campaign also modulated his stance on abortion, declaring it a state-level decision, which likely appealed to some voters despite outrage from longtime foes of abortion.
Additionally, Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, were criticized for playing it too "safe" during their campaign. They acknowledged that they should have held more in-person events across the United States to engage with voters. The pair also faced an uphill battle due to Biden's low approval ratings during his first year in office, which may have influenced how voters perceived Harris.
Finally, voter turnout and engagement played a role in Harris's loss. While the most politically engaged individuals swung toward the Democrats, the least engaged individuals swung enormously against them. There was also a significant drop in Democratic voter turnout, with many choosing to stay home rather than vote for either party. This depressed turnout among Democratic voters contributed to Trump's victory.
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Harris's potential run for California governor in 2026
Kamala Harris, the former vice president of the United States, is seriously considering a run for governor of California in 2026. Harris has stated that she will decide whether to run by the end of the summer. She has kept a relatively low profile since her defeat in the 2024 election to Donald Trump, but she has indicated that she intends to "stay in the fight".
Harris has long been intrigued by the prospect of becoming the chief executive of the world's fifth-largest economy and the first Black woman to be governor in America. She has maintained significant leads in early national polls of the field of possible candidates, and her public appearances since leaving office suggest she sees a future as a Democratic Party leader. Harris has also kept on some of her most senior and trusted aides, including chief of staff Sheila Nix and senior advisers Kirsten Allen and Ike Irby.
If Harris were to run for governor of California, she would face competition from several other candidates, including Katie Porter, Tony Thurmond, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Betty Yee. Her bid would also likely put her in direct conflict with Trump, who has regularly criticised the state for its left-leaning policies. Trump himself has commented on Harris's potential run, stating that she should do more interviews on the campaign trail.
Harris's potential run for governor is also significant because it could impact her future political ambitions. Allies have stated that if she were to win the governorship, a 2028 presidential run would likely be off the table. However, a successful term as governor of California could enhance her prospects for higher office in the future.
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Harris's infamous appearance on *The View*
Kamala Harris lost the 2024 election to Donald Trump, who won by a point and a half in the popular vote and ultimately secured 312 electoral votes. Harris's campaign was marred by her infamous appearance on *The View*, where she failed to answer a question about how she would be different from President Joe Biden.
During her appearance on *The View*, Harris was asked the "money question" by co-host Sunny Hostin: "If anything, would you have done something differently than President Biden during the past four years?" To this, Harris responded, "There is not a thing that comes to mind." This response was criticised by Democratic strategist James Carville, who said that Harris "completely flubs it". He emphasised that the country wanted something different, and Harris's failure to articulate any alternative vision was a crucial mistake.
The episode marked Harris's first talk show appearance since becoming vice president. It was originally supposed to be an in-person interview, but it was changed to a virtual one after two of the show's co-hosts, Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro, tested positive for COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated. During the interview, Harris discussed various topics, including COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, the treatment of Haitian migrants at the southern border, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the Texas abortion ban.
Harris's future plans remain uncertain, with some speculating that she might run for California governor in 2026 or make another bid for the White House. However, Carville believes that it would be "very, very difficult" for Harris to win the nomination again.
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Harris's chances in the swing states
Kamala Harris' chances in the swing states have been a key focus of her campaign. In the 2024 election, there were seven swing states that were likely to decide the election outcome: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
In the lead-up to the election, Harris' prospects in these states fluctuated. In August 2024, polls showed Harris leading Trump in five swing states: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada. At that time, she had a narrow lead in Nevada, with 44.6% of the vote. However, other polls in August showed Harris without the lead in any swing states, and some had Trump leading in as many as six of the seven swing states.
By late October, Harris had a razor-thin lead in Michigan, according to FiveThirtyEight, with 47.6% to Trump's 47.3%. But, other polls conducted around the same time showed Trump with a slight lead in Michigan. In Wisconsin, another critical swing state, Harris was projected to secure a victory according to 538, but other polls had Trump ahead.
In Pennsylvania, polling showed a close race, with Harris slightly ahead in some surveys and Trump leading in others. North Carolina was considered a toss-up between the two candidates, and Harris needed to win this state or other competitive Sun Belt states to secure the Electoral College vote.
Ultimately, Harris lost the 2024 election to Trump, but she has not ruled out another White House run in the future.
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Harris's chances of winning the Electoral College
Kamala Harris lost the 2024 US presidential election to Donald Trump. As the incumbent vice president, Harris presided over the certification of her own defeat, a situation that has only occurred twice before in US history.
Harris's defeat was described as "bruising", and she kept a low profile in the aftermath. However, she has since hinted at a potential run for California governor in 2026, when current governor Gavin Newsom will be term-limited and may pursue a presidential bid.
Ultimately, Harris failed to secure enough electoral votes to win the presidency. In states like Washington and Colorado, Harris won a majority of votes, but this did not translate into a victory in the Electoral College. Some have criticised the Electoral College as a flawed system, arguing that it should be abolished in favour of a direct popular vote.
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Frequently asked questions
No, she lost to Donald Trump.
Harris kept a relatively low profile after her loss. However, she did make an appearance at an event for students at Prince George's Community College in Maryland in December.
Harris provided a glimpse of her mindset at the Maryland event, saying, "The movements for civil rights, women's rights, workers' rights, the United States of America itself, would never have come to be if people had given up their cause after a court case, or a battle, or an election did not go their way. We must stay in the fight."
Harris is weighing her options, which could include another White House run or a bid to be California's governor in 2026.
According to Democratic strategist James Carville, Harris didn't give a reason for people to vote for her. He cited her infamous appearance on "The View", where she was unable to answer what she would have done differently from President Joe Biden. Carville also noted that people wanted change, which may have contributed to Trump's victory.
