The Blubber

Kamala Harris has kept a low profile following her loss in the presidential race, taking time to unwind with family and close aides in Hawaii before returning to Washington, D.C.

Privately, however, the vice president is instructing advisers and allies to keep her political options open. These include a potential 2028 presidential campaign or a run for governor in California in two years. As Harris has emphasized in conversations, “I am staying in the fight.”

According to five individuals within Harris’ inner circle, who spoke anonymously about her plans, she intends to explore these possibilities with family members over the winter holidays. These deliberations come after an intense four-month stretch in which Harris transitioned from being President Joe Biden’s running mate to leading the Democratic ticket, invigorating the party before ultimately faltering on election night.

“She doesn’t need to decide on her next move in the next six months,” said a former campaign aide. “The logical step would be to establish some kind of organization to allow her to travel, deliver speeches, and maintain her political connections.”

A Role Beyond the Election

Harris has publicly acknowledged the election results, stating, “We must accept the results of this election.”

Her immediate focus, according to advisers, is determining how and when to reassert herself within the Democratic Party and challenge Donald Trump. As her term as vice president concludes, she will preside over the certification of the November election results and then attend Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

“There will be a strong appetite to hear her perspective, and she won’t stay silent for long,” noted one individual close to Harris.

Life After the Naval Observatory

On a personal level, Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, have decisions to make about where they’ll settle after leaving the vice president’s residence. Whether they return to their Los Angeles home or establish a base elsewhere, security remains a concern, as her Secret Service protection ends six months after leaving office.

Harris’ transition also includes considerations for establishing a federal committee to raise funds and creating a personal office to sustain her significant online presence. For the first time in two decades, Harris, a former senator and prosecutor, will not hold public office, requiring her to recalibrate her role in public life.

Lessons from the Past

Donna Brazile, a longtime Harris ally and the former campaign manager for Al Gore—who, like Harris, lost a presidential race after serving as vice president—offered some perspective.

“You have to let them reflect on their successes, failures, mistakes, and achievements,” Brazile said. She noted that Gore took time to refocus, eventually dedicating himself to climate change advocacy.

Harris, despite her defeat, has built considerable political capital. “You don’t squander that by making hasty decisions,” Brazile added.