After overseeing what can only be described as a catastrophic loss for the Democratic Party—a billion-dollar debacle that saw Republicans holding onto the House and regaining the Oval Office and Senate—Vice President Kamala Harris is apparently ready for her next act. According to a report from Politico, Harris has instructed her team and inner circle to keep their options open as she toys with the idea of running for president again or taking a shot at becoming California’s governor. Because nothing says “political reset” like doubling down after a historic defeat.
Harris has been making phone calls to her allies, repeating a new catchphrase that she likely hopes will erase the memory of the party’s recent implosion: “I am staying in the fight.” Presumably, this means she plans to reassert herself as a leading figure in the Democratic Party and take on the role of a high-profile opponent to Donald Trump in his second term. Whether the party faithful are ready to rally around her after such a crushing loss remains to be seen, but Harris appears determined to convince them she’s still the fighter they need—if not the one they deserve.
Meanwhile, insiders say Harris isn’t in any rush to make a decision about her next move. According to Politico, one former aide suggested that Harris could set up an organization to fund her travels, speeches, and ongoing political networking—essentially keeping her name in the spotlight while buying time to decide her path forward. Another former staffer described her decision-making process as deliberate to a fault, hinting that it could be months, if not longer, before Harris settles on her next ambition. Translation: expect more vague slogans and carefully curated public appearances in the interim.
The Democratic blame game, of course, is already in full swing. Some in the party are pointing fingers at President Joe Biden, accusing him of overstaying his welcome in the campaign and robbing Harris of the chance to unite the party under her leadership. Others are criticizing Harris herself, citing extravagant campaign spending on celebrity-filled soirées as a distraction from the actual business of winning votes. And, in a moment of peak political theater, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reportedly found a way to direct blame toward a Jewish political group—because, apparently, accountability is optional when the goal is to shift the narrative.
Harris’s future in politics may be uncertain, but one thing is clear: the Democratic Party is in the midst of a full-blown identity crisis. As Harris plots her comeback, she faces the unenviable task of convincing both her party and the public that she’s the right person to lead them forward. Whether this involves another presidential run, a gubernatorial campaign, or simply becoming a professional opposition figure, Harris has her work cut out for her. For now, the fight she’s staying in seems to be as much about salvaging her own political brand as it is about shaping the party’s future.
