Support for a potential 2028 presidential bid by former Vice President Kamala Harris appears to be weakening among some major Democratic donors, fundraisers, and political strategists, according to a new report from the Los Angeles Times.
Several longtime Democratic backers who contributed heavily to Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign reportedly expressed skepticism about her ability to lead the party back to the White House after Democrats’ bruising loss to President Donald Trump last year.
“I think it is too early to pick a favorite in the 2028 race, but Kamala Harris will not be my candidate,” one anonymous donor who reportedly gave more than $1 million to her campaign told the outlet. “I don’t think she would appeal to a swing voter, and we need swing voters to win.”
Harris became the Democratic nominee in 2024 after then-President Joe Biden exited the race just 107 days before Election Day following mounting concerns over his age and a widely criticized debate performance against Trump. Despite the late transition, Harris ultimately lost both the Electoral College and the popular vote, while Trump swept all seven key battleground states.
Now, some Democrats appear concerned that Harris carries too much political baggage from that defeat to successfully mount another national campaign.
“I don’t think it’s a helpful narrative for 2028 to start with the 2024 hangover,” one former Harris fundraiser said. “There is an enormous appetite for new blood — something fresh, something that really represents the future, not the past.”
The report suggested that many Democratic donors are already looking toward a new generation of party leadership as speculation about the 2028 race intensifies.
Among the names frequently floated as possible contenders is California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has increasingly emerged as a favorite among some influential Democratic figures.
Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, who reportedly donated $1 million to the pro-Harris super PAC Future Forward during the 2024 election, appeared to signal support for Newsom over Harris.
“Gavin is the candidate who can motivate both the left and the center,” Hastings said.
Other Democratic strategists questioned whether Harris could overcome the perception of being tied to a losing national campaign.
“She’s run, she’s lost, so the question’s going to be, is there somebody that gives Democratic voters more of a sense that they could win?” longtime South Carolina Democratic strategist Dick Harpootlian told the Times. “That’s what all of us are looking for. We want to win in ’28.”
South Carolina has long played a major role in Democratic presidential politics because of its diverse electorate and influence in shaping the party’s nomination process. Rep. James E. Clyburn, one of the state’s most influential Democrats and a key figure in Biden’s 2020 primary victory, also appeared hesitant to rally behind Harris for another White House bid.
“I’m not thinking about 2028, and if she were to call me I wouldn’t talk to her about it,” Clyburn said when asked about Harris’ prospects.
Despite the concerns among donors and party insiders, Harris still appears to maintain significant support among Democratic voters. A recent Harvard CAPS/Harris poll found she led a hypothetical Democratic primary field with support from roughly half of Democratic respondents surveyed.
Still, multiple reports in recent months have suggested growing unease among Democratic strategists and major financial backers about whether Harris is the strongest candidate to lead the party into the next presidential election.
“A lot of people love her and also don’t think that she is the answer for 2028,” one fundraiser told the outlet.
While Harris has ruled out a run for governor of California, she has left the door open to another presidential campaign, recently saying she “might” consider running again.
For now, however, the Democratic Party appears divided between loyalists who still see Harris as a viable national figure and others searching for what they view as a fresher face capable of rebuilding the party after its 2024 defeat.
