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Steve Hilton, a Republican eyeing the governor’s mansion, wasted no time turning Harris into a political punching bag. In an email to supporters this week, Hilton took aim at the Democratic machine, saying that Kamala could actually help flip the script in 2026.
“I sense that this is the best shot for someone to be elected statewide in California who’s not a Democrat for at least 20 years, and I think the evident reason for that is the failure of one-party rule,” Hilton told backers. “The candidate who’s going to win in 2026, regardless of party label, is the change candidate. Kamala Harris is the one who least represents change.”
That’s a damning indictment for someone hoping to portray herself as a fresh alternative. Instead, Harris could be seen as a recycled face from the D.C. swamp — one that conservatives are ready to pounce on.
And it’s not just rhetoric. According to longtime Republican strategist Dave Gilliard, Harris entering the race might be the shot in the arm California conservatives have been waiting for.
“I think it could attract some donors from around the country who might be interested in taking another pound of flesh,” Gilliard told Politico.
“Money is the biggest obstacle other than the registration because the donor world doesn’t think a Republican can be elected governor anymore,” he added.
Translation: Kamala’s presence could light a fire under national donors who usually write California off. That financial lifeline could bring the GOP back into the conversation in a state where they’ve been buried for decades.
Meanwhile, Harris has yet to make it official. She’s reportedly told close allies she’ll make a decision by the end of the summer. For now, she’s focused on penning a memoir that recounts her time in the Biden White House — a project some see as her attempt to cling to the national spotlight.
But even if she waits for the 2028 presidential race instead, she won’t be able to dodge the baggage from her time as Vice President — especially when it comes to President Biden’s decline. A new book from CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson has peeled back the curtain on Biden’s deteriorating condition, including moments where he allegedly nodded off during debate prep and forgot the names of longtime staffers.
And Kamala was right there defending him the entire time. “He’s very much alive,” Harris said in response to early concerns over Biden’s health.
Now that Biden’s mental sharpness is under a microscope, voters are likely to wonder just how much Harris really knew — and how complicit she was in covering for him.
Whether she runs in 2026 or waits until 2028, Kamala Harris may find that the path to redemption is more of a political minefield. And if she does step back into the ring, Republicans appear ready — and eager — to welcome her.
