Former Vice President Kamala Harris has not decided on a 2028 run, yet Democratic senators are already dodging her potential candidacy. Sen. Richard Blumenthal told Fox News Digital he has made no decisions about who he would support. He noted that while he backed her before, there will be other contenders this time.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin warned that the upcoming race will be a “very, very, very messy and very big primary.” She believes it will involve “every Tom, Dick and Harry” and argued that this openness is probably where it should be. Sen. Chris Coons added that the party should sort out the field after the midterms.
Harris herself hit the campaign trail last week in Michigan to warn that the 2028 race “won’t matter” without success in 2026. She told reporters in Detroit that she had not decided on a bid. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks said her team is focused on winning back the House and the Senate in the next cycle.
Sen. Ed Markey characterized the contest as a wide open primary, asserting that any individual wishing to run must be permitted to seek office. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen echoed this sentiment, saying the party needs a broad discussion about the future of the country. This includes potential contenders like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
A July poll from the University of New Hampshire found Ocasio-Cortez leading the prospective Democratic primary field with 22% support among likely voters. Harris registered only 5% in that same snapshot. Neither candidate has officially announced a campaign for the 2028 election.
Governor Newsom recently hinted at a run but said he would not enter the race if Harris decides to run. The political landscape remains fluid as the party prepares for the 2026 midterm elections. No one has set a firm date for an announcement.
While the party debates the future, a separate dispute erupted in Sacramento over media access to a Harris event. According to reports, its news team was not invited to cover a campaign stop for Dr. Richard Pan. The nine-minute speech was attended by other outlets like The Sacramento Bee and The Los Angeles Times.
A spokesman for Pan’s campaign told the station that the decision to exclude KCRA 3 and The New York Times came from Kamala Harris’ team. He stated that all credentialing was directed by the Vice President’s office. However, a person on Harris’ team denied these claims and said the Pan campaign handled all press matters.
The unidentified person maintained that Harris had no members of her communications team present at the event. Pan would not answer questions when reporters asked about excluding journalists. It seems both sides are holding each other responsible for the access problem.
This incident highlights the friction between the former Vice President and local candidates in California. Pan is running for the 6th Congressional District. The situation remains unresolved as the election season continues.
Democrats face a complex path forward with a crowded field and internal disagreements on strategy. The party must focus on the upcoming midterms before deciding on a presidential nominee. The 2026 election will determine the direction of the next cycle.
