Democratic insiders are questioning whether Kamala Harris took the wrong path by pursuing the presidency instead of running for California governor, where the party faces unexpected headwinds in a traditionally blue state.
The vice president's decision to seek the White House again has left some within party ranks wondering if she could have made a more immediate impact closer to home. California's governorship represents unfinished business for Democrats, who are struggling to consolidate power in a state they have long dominated.
Harris has deep roots in California politics, having served as the state's attorney general and senator before her national ascent. That political resume and name recognition could have positioned her as a formidable candidate in a gubernatorial race, particularly at a moment when Democrats are grappling with challenges to their control in Sacramento.
The timing of her decision matters too. A push for the nation's highest office requires resources, focus, and a national infrastructure that pulls energy away from state-level contests. Those same resources and that political muscle could have been deployed to shore up Democratic dominance in California, a state that remains crucial to any national Democratic strategy.
Some party operatives see a missed opportunity. Running a successful statewide campaign in California would have represented a concrete achievement in a state where Democrats need to demonstrate they can still govern effectively and deliver results at the grassroots level.
Harris remains focused on her presidential ambitions for now, but the questions from her own party suggest the political calculus around her career choices is more complicated than it initially appeared.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Harris had a chance to fix California first, but chose the harder, riskier path instead."
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