Kamala Harris Eyes California Governor Run, GOP Cheers Loudest

Kamala Harris is reportedly considering a run for governor of California in 2026 and no group seems more thrilled than California Republicans.

The vice president, who has repeatedly failed to connect with voters on the national stage, is now eyeing her home state as a possible political lifeboat. But the very idea of Harris as California’s next governor is generating glee from an unlikely source: the GOP.

“I’d jump for joy,” declared Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. “She’s the perfect example of everything Californians are sick of soft on crime, blind to our problems, and more focused on DC than Main Street.”

According to CBS News, Harris is weighing three options: run for governor, take another swing at the presidency, or retire from elected politics altogether. Given her disastrous performance as vice president from her abysmal handling of the border crisis to becoming the least-popular VP in modern polling history a gubernatorial bid may seem like her safest path. But not if you ask Republicans.

Here’s why the GOP is salivating over a Harris run:

• Her approval numbers remain deeply underwater in California, a state she should easily dominate.

• In 2024, she underperformed Biden’s 2020 numbers across the state while Trump gained in traditionally blue counties.

• Her track record from botched prosecutions to being MIA on California issues makes her the ultimate establishment insider in a state hungry for change.

“She’s got the résumé but so do a lot of people who’ve lost,” noted GOP strategist Kevin Madden. “What she doesn’t have is momentum.”

Even top conservative voices are beginning to think the unthinkable that a Republican could break through in the Golden State. “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,” said Steve Hilton. “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.”

Republican consultant Dave Gilliard added that Harris’s entry could ignite a donor surge. “It could attract some donors from around the country who might be interested in taking another pound of flesh,” he said.

The enthusiasm on the right is telling. After decades of Democrat dominance, many Californians even some Democrats are showing signs of fatigue. Skyrocketing crime, homelessness, failing schools, and over-taxation have pushed millions out of the state. Harris, as a poster child for failed progressive policies, might be the ideal candidate for Republicans to beat.

“She has a chance to be embarrassed even if she wins,” said GOP strategist Kevin Spillane. “It could be a pyrrhic victory.”

If Harris jumps into the 2026 race, expect Republicans to come out swinging not just for a symbolic fight, but for a real shot at flipping the governor’s mansion. After all, the last Republican to do it was a celebrity outsider named Arnold. If California’s tired enough of Harris-style politics, it could happen again.

Share this story with anyone tired of watching the same failed leadership get recycled and subscribe to our newsletter for insider updates on the 2026 California showdown.