President Donald Trump’s envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell, floated the idea of running as Governor of California if former Vice President Kamala Harris launches a gubernatorial campaign.
Speaking to reporters at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Grenell said, “If Kamala Harris runs for governor, I believe that she has such baggage and hundreds of millions of dollars in educating the voters of how terrible she is, that it’s a new day in California and that the Republican actually has a shot, and I wouldn’t say no.”
Harris has reportedly considered a 2026 gubernatorial run in California. The idea is backed by almost half of California voters.
According to the poll from the University of California at Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, 72% of Democrats would be likely or somewhat likely to support Harris. Among Republicans and Independents, 8% and 38%, respectively, said they would be likely or somewhat likely to support Harris in a possible gubernatorial run.
Among all likely voters surveyed, 46% said they would be inclined to support Harris.
Harris has also floated a possible presidential campaign for 2028, an idea criticized by Democrat strategist Theryn Bond.
“I can’t really speak for governor of California. Californians seem to support her significantly,” she continued. “We haven’t yet been able to measure what that support looks like after this current run she just had. That may be the only thing that she, I guess, may make sense for her to consider, but another shot at the presidency, I hope she doesn’t, and if she is relying on those same advisers that advised her this cycle, that’s not who I would listen to.”
