Well, isn’t this a touching display of Democratic Party unity—or maybe just a masterclass in awkward optics. President Joe Biden, fresh off his loss to President-elect Donald Trump, made headlines again with a strange pep talk to Vice President Kamala Harris during a DNC holiday reception. Looking her dead in the eye, Biden reassured her, “You’re not going anywhere, kid, because we’re not going to let you go.” The crowd laughed and clapped, but the rest of us were left wondering if this was a motivational speech or a hostage situation.
Biden, whose tenure has been marked by more gaffes than accomplishments, doubled down on his choice of Harris as VP. “I knew what I was doing when I asked her to be my vice president,” he proclaimed, listing her “purpose” and “integrity” as proof of her qualifications. Let’s not forget this is the same Kamala Harris who took over as the Democratic nominee after Biden’s campaign hit the skids. She then went on to lose handily to Trump, even with the full weight of the Democratic machine behind her.
Biden tells Kamala: “You’re not going anywhere, kid, because we’re not going to let you go” 😳 pic.twitter.com/XD00fRwaw5
— Jake Schneider (@jacobkschneider) December 15, 2024
Now, as Harris faces the fallout from her defeat, the Democratic Party is left figuring out what to do with her next. According to reports, Harris is “keeping her options open,” eyeing a potential run for governor of California in 2026 or another shot at the presidency in 2028. Nothing says “I’m ready for a comeback,” quite like fumbling a high-profile race and then pivoting to the deep blue safety net of California politics.
And let’s talk about that California governor’s race. Some Democrats are already treating it as a “layup” for Harris, as though a run in the nation’s most liberal state would somehow repair her national brand. But even that isn’t guaranteed. Polling might show her with an edge, but there’s already talk of potential GOP candidates like Caitlyn Jenner, who boldly claims she could “destroy” Harris in an election. Say what you want about Jenner, but at least she’s never tried to explain “yellow school buses” as a profound metaphor for… something.
Meanwhile, Harris’ allies insist she didn’t get a “fair shot” in 2024 and deserves another chance in 2028. Sure, because nothing screams “fair shot” like being handed the Democratic nomination by default after your running mate drops out. Even CNN’s Edward-Isaac Dovere, hardly a conservative sympathizer, acknowledges that the Democratic Party isn’t exactly clamoring to clear the field for Harris. Coming off a loss and walking into another bruising primary battle? Not exactly the political comeback story of the century.
CNN reports Kamala is seriously considering a run for governor of California in 2026 or president in 2028, telling donors: “You haven’t seen the last of me. I’m not going quietly into the night.”
Yes, please do. pic.twitter.com/iVw6ILEtcu
— Jake Schneider (@jacobkschneider) December 15, 2024
But perhaps the most telling moment of the night was Harris’ attempt to rally the troops. “We are not defeated,” she insisted, trying to channel the fighting spirit of a party that just got steamrolled in the Electoral College. Inspiring words, sure, but they ring hollow when the results speak for themselves. If this is the Democratic Party’s version of regrouping, Republicans can sit back and enjoy the show.
“Our spirit is not defeated. We are not defeated.”
— @VP @KamalaHarris at the DNC Holiday Reception. pic.twitter.com/nhtX1MQa2D
— best of kamala harris (@archivekamala) December 15, 2024
Biden’s oddly possessive reassurance and Harris’ vague promises of sticking around do little to mask the cracks in the Democratic Party’s foundation. Whether Harris runs for governor, president, or PTA chair, one thing is clear: the road ahead isn’t getting any smoother for her or her party. Meanwhile, President-elect Trump is busy preparing to lead while the Democrats are still trying to figure out what went wrong.
