Former Vice President — and failed Democratic presidential candidate — Kamala Harris seems to be under the impression that she can pull off a divine act and resurrect her embarrassing political career from the dead by making a bid for the governor’s seat in California. And many Republicans feel making this move would benefit them in a big way.
The thinking, according to members of the GOP in the Golden State is that with Harris being extremely unpopular with conservatives and donors, they Republican hopefuls in the state could see a massive financial windfall.
Before you get excited and delude yourself with fantasies of flipping California red, this state is deep, deep blue and it’s not at all prepared to hand the reins over to a Republican. It could happen down the road, but not soon.
“But that doesn’t mean the GOP can’t reap the financial rewards of a competitive race against the Democrats, especially a Democratic Party spearheaded by Harris,” The Western Journal reported.
“Harris’s possible entry [in the gubernatorial race] is already bringing GOP candidates tactical benefits, allowing them to run against a high-profile adversary who’s likely to energize donors and the conservative rank-and-file,” Politico said.
“The outlet also explained that while other California Democrats are in a holding pattern while Harris makes her final decision (she is expected to decide by the end of summer), Republicans are already acting as if Harris is the de facto candidate,” the article continued.
“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,” Republican candidate Steve Hilton stated in an email blasted out to supporters.
He then went on to say, “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.”
Dave Gilliard, a GOP political consultant, spoke with Politico, saying that the animosity still hanging in the air toward the former vice president could be just what the doctor ordered for Republicans.
“I think it could attract some donors from around the country who might be interested in taking another pound of flesh,” Gilliard shared.
Gilliard further elaborated on why this was so important, especially when it came to giving donors — who are naturally averse to wasting money — a reason to loosen those purse strings.
“Money is the biggest obstacle other than the registration because the donor world doesn’t think a Republican can be elected governor anymore,” Gilliard pointed out to the publication.
Harris has been ducking in and out of the public eye ever since her massive loss last November. Anytime she does poke her head out of her hidey-hole, for appearances, she gets bopped by the hammer of public opinion in a gleeful game of whack-a-mole by Americans across the country.
Experts in the political arena say that the California gubernatorial race is the best opportunity Harris has at repairing her political image. I’m not sure anything will breathe new life into this dead horse.
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