August 22, 2024: Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center.
Sacramento, California – As California’s 2026 gubernatorial race heats up, former Vice President Kamala Harris’ delayed decision on whether to run has created a growing sense of frustration among fellow Democrats already in the race. Several high-profile candidates have criticized Harris for keeping the field in suspense, warning that the state cannot afford to wait for leadership amid mounting challenges and a resurgent Trump presidency.
“The challenges facing California are too great for us to wait for a candidate who wants to come in late in the game,” said former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who launched his campaign last July. “This will not be a coronation.”
Villaraigosa and other Democratic contenders — including former Rep. Katie Porter and former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra — have urged candidates to step up now, not later. “No one should be waiting to lead,” Porter said in March. Becerra echoed the sentiment, calling it “not a time to sit on the sidelines.”
Polls show Harris would immediately become the frontrunner if she enters the race, thanks to her extensive political résumé, national name recognition, and deep donor base. But strategists warn her delay is creating a “chilling effect” on fundraising for other candidates, according to veteran Democratic strategist Darry Sragow.
The donor class is growing restless. Tracy Austin, a major Los Angeles fundraiser, says there’s mounting frustration about the wait — compounded by the large sums already spent on Harris’ unsuccessful 2024 presidential bid.
Campaign finance reports due in July will offer a clearer picture, but so far Villaraigosa has raised about $3.2 million, dwarfing the $133,400 reported by Porter and the $215,000 by GOP candidate Chad Bianco.
Republicans, meanwhile, are seizing the moment. Bianco has already launched attacks invoking Harris’ name, while outgoing GOP Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson said, “I would love to see her on the ballot.”
Harris, who has kept a relatively low profile since the 2024 election, is expected to make a decision by the end of summer. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said recently — though whether that includes a run for governor remains to be seen.
