Kamala Harris, don’t run for California governor. You’re not right for the job | Opinion
Donald Trump does not believe in American democracy, so there was no way I could vote for him as president. I voted for Kamala Harris.
But while she has a compelling personal story and outstanding debate skills as a former prosecutor — she crushed Trump in their only debate — Harris’ time for big political office has come and gone.
She lost the presidential election to Trump. Now, she should remove herself from campaigning to be the next governor of California.
I realize polls show her leading all identified Democratic candidates for the office at this juncture. I write this column not as a discouraged Democrat — I am registered as no party preference — but as a lifelong Californian who now hopes his adult children will somehow be able to buy a starter home in this state. It is hard to see how that might happen, given California’s extreme housing prices.
It is also frustrating to buy super-expensive gas, afford home insurance and endure utility bills that only go up.
The next governor of California must prioritize pocketbook issues central to the lives of the middle class. That is me, my family and friends. We are not the ultra wealthy of Silicon Valley, Beverly Hills or La Jolla, yet we earn too much to take advantage of government programs that low-income people can use, thanks to the taxes paid by Californians.
Harris did not deliver on pocketbook issues as a presidential candidate. Instead, she was part of the Biden team that brought high inflation back to America, despite some economists’ warnings that too much pandemic spending was occurring.
Yes, Biden owns the lion’s share of the blame for that inflationary excess. But Harris did not articulate a plan for lowering costs for Americans, and it cost her the White House.
Now Trump and his army of Project 2025 sycophants are strategically destroying our democracy and replacing it with presidential tyranny. The stakes are high when it comes to major political offices. That is why California needs a governor cut from different cloth than Harris.
If California Democrats can say enough to the party orthodoxy of identity politics that has led them for too long, they may discover a new manner of leader who could not only guide the Golden State, but be an inspiration for a renewed Democratic party nationally.
Poll shows skepticism on Kamala Harris for governor
I am not alone in my skepticism toward Harris.
A poll of California voters done recently by the news website Politico and UC Berkeley’s Citrin Center found that just 33% of Democrats were “joyful” at the idea of Harris as governor. Forty-one percent were “mostly excited.”
That is not overwhelming support.
A segment of those polled was characterized as political insiders. They were even less enthused about Harris. Just 22% were “mostly excited” while 20% were “irritated” at the possibility of her as governor.
“California’s Democratic voters cheer the potential of Harris for governor, but warning signs are lurking,” is how a Politico headline put it.
Electing Harris to be California’s next governor would be like returning to drink a half-empty bottle of Napa wine. It still has flavor, but is not as satisfying.
Restoring affordability is a must in California
Harris has been criticized as too cautious in her campaigning. Most recently that idea came from none other than her former running mate, Tim Walz of Minnesota. The former vice president candidate told Politico he and Harris should have held more in-person events in their campaign.
California does not need a cautious governor. Our state’s economic problems are major and need leadership with urgency:
▪ The median home price in California in March was $884,000;
▪ The state’s average price for a gallon of gas was $4.78 on May 6. The national average was $3.15;
▪ The average monthly bill for electricity in San Francisco is $170.
Without question, California is too expensive. The next governor needs to focus on bringing prices down and making California affordable again. I respect Kamala Harris, but she is not that person.
This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 10:08 AM with the headline "Kamala Harris, don’t run for California governor. You’re not right for the job | Opinion."