Dem donors tell Kamala 'California isn't a consolation prize', give cold shoulder as she considers gubernatorial race

As former Vice President Kamala Harris considers a potential run for governor of California, some of the state’s most influential Democratic donors have expressed deep skepticism with that prospect. Many are disappointed from what some have described as her "pathetic," "traumatizing" presidential campaign last fall against President Donald Trump.

"Kamala just reminds you we are in this complete sh*t storm," Democrat California donor told reporters at Politico. The donor added that another Harris run would bring back memories of the "traumatizing" election against Trump.

"With Biden, we got bamboozled. … I think [Harris] did the best she could in that situation, but obviously she knew about the cognitive decline too," the donor continued. "I've written so many checks because I knew the Trump administration would be horrible, but we're living in a nightmare because of the Democrats. I'm furious at them, truly."

As Harris has continued in her political trajectory after the election, with the gubernatorial race as an option, it is not the first time Democrats have been publicly critical of the former Vice President.

Some delegates at the California Democrat Party Convention “openly fretted that California was simply a fallback option for Harris,” last month. Some at the convention worried that Harris is more interested in positioning herself for a 2028 presidential run than in governing the state. "My concern about Harris is that she would be using the position, if she won, as a placeholder for a second run at the presidency," delegate Carol Weiss told reporters.

Since losing to Donald Trump, Harris has largely avoided the spotlight, but the outlet reported that Harris “has embarked on a quiet schedule of thank you visits, catch-up calls and listening sessions, touching base with her most trusted supporters as she weighs her options.” The Democrat politician is expected to decide whether to throw her hat in the ring by the end of the summer.

One Democrat fundraiser said a Harris candidacy would “bring up the whole pathetic last presidential, which no one wants to hear about again. And then it’s the whole ‘Did you know Joe Biden?’ thing.”

Scott Drexel, an adviser to Democratic donors, summarized the mood bluntly: "It's very fair to say there's not an overwhelming clamor" for Harris to jump in the gubernatorial race. "It's very hard for there to be one if it's not 100 percent clear if she really wants to do it."

"California isn't a consolation prize," state party delegate Madison Zimmerman said in May.