Ric Grenell considers California gubernatorial run to oppose Kamala Harris

President Trump’s envoy for special missions Ric Grenell has said he may run against former Vice President Kamala Harris if she makes a move to run for governor in California. Grenell recently assisted the Trump administration by bringing home Americans being held in Venezuela.

Grenell told reporters in Munich, Germany that if Harris were to run in the gubernatorial race, she has enough baggage such that he could win against her. “If Kamala Harris runs for governor, I believe that she has such baggage and hundreds of millions of dollars in educating the voters of how terrible she is, that it’s a new day in California, and that the Republican actually has a shot,” Grenell said, per the New York Post.

"I wouldn't say no" to running, he added about the prospect. It is unknown as of yet if Grenell has taken steps to officially throw his name in the ring, as the election will take place in 2026. Governor Gavin Newsom is under the restriction of term limits, and will not be able to run again for the position. Harris is a prospective front-runner for the Democrats if she throws her hat in the ring. 

Harris was elected as the state's attorney general twice in 2010 and 2014 as well as a senator in 2016. That was before she made a presidential run attempt, but was beaten out by former President Joe Biden who brought her on as his Vice President.

Grenell served as the US ambassador to Germany in the first Trump term and helped to block the Nord Stream 2 Russian natural gas pipeline during Trump's term. The project was later allowed to go forward by the Biden administration. His name as well as Marco Rubio's were two names that were rumored to be appointed Secretary of State before Trump chose Rubio for the position.