Kamala Harris still fancies herself the Democrat Party's inevitable choice for 2028. And, for what it’s worth, on paper, the polls seem to back her up. Most surveys showing her ahead of the rest of the Democrat field. But those numbers have always been a mirage, a reflection of name recognition more than actual enthusiasm. And even that flimsy foundation is cracking.
Kamala certainly hasn't ruled anything out. She’s basically playing this close to the vest, expressing a willingness to run without saying that she definitely will. But all signs point to her running, and her team is certainly looking at the polls and figuring it’s all good news.
But if she were truly the frontrunner, she’d have so much political capital right now that Democrats would be begging her to boost their campaigns. But out on the campaign trail, in the states where Democrats need to win in 2026, something else is happening entirely, something the frontrunner narrative conveniently ignores. So what do candidates actually running for office think of Kamala's future?
Iowa is where the snub is hardest to miss. Two of the state's top Democrat candidates have now publicly said, on the record, that they don't want Kamala anywhere near their campaigns. Rob Sand, the Democrat nominee for Iowa governor, didn't hold back when Politico asked him at the Iowa State Fair whether he wanted Kamala to campaign for him. "No thanks," Sand said. "Let's move on. We need some new leadership."
ICYMI: Greg Gutfeld Humiliates Jessica Tarlov AGAIN for Spreading Anti-Law Enforcement Lies
Josh Turek, the Democrat nominee for U.S. Senate in Iowa, got the same question and gave an even shorter answer, responding with a smiling "No."
Kamala is getting the same treatment beyond Iowa, too.
Mary Peltola, the Democrat Senate candidate in Alaska, distanced herself from Kamala after Kamala's political operation sent out a fundraising appeal on Peltola's behalf without so much as a heads-up. Don’t expect to see Kamala in Michigan, either.
“Look, the reality is, she underperformed in Michigan, particularly in places like Dearborn,” a Democrat strategist told The Hill. “And Elissa Slotkin was on the ballot and won. So that says a lot.”
The message is clear: in competitive races, Kamala isn’t welcome.
Think about that for a second. Kamala remains one of the most recognizable figures in her party, a former vice president, first female vice president, and the party’s 2024 presidential nominee. And candidates in competitive races still won't be seen within ten feet of her. That's a humiliating repudiation, and it says everything about how little political capital she actually has left… that is, if you figure she ever really had any at all.
Jeff Link, an Iowa-based Democrat strategist, told the Washington Times that Kamala faces a rough road if she wants to stay relevant in a party that's desperate to move past her. "The brand of any past nominee is a challenge," Link said. "We need a new direction, new leadership."
Since her 2024 loss, Kamala has taken a cautious, hedge-your-bets approach to her future. She passed on a run for California governor and has repeatedly refused to rule out another White House bid, which is basically her way of saying she plans to run. She clearly still believes she's more popular than she actually is.
When the candidates who need Democrat votes the most are the ones sprinting away from you, your 2028 campaign is already finished. The only question left is how long it takes Kamala to get the memo.
