Kamala Harris gave her clearest signal yet that she wants another shot at the White House. Speaking at a major civil rights convention in New York City on Friday, the former vice president told a cheering crowd she hasn’t ruled out a third presidential campaign.
The moment came during Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network convention, according to the Associated Press. Sharpton asked Harris directly whether she planned to run in 2028, and she repeated the same answer three times: “I’m thinking about it.”
“I might. I am thinking about it,” Harris said in response to Sharpton’s question. The room erupted with chants of “Run again!” from attendees who had just given her the only standing ovation of the event.
Harris on her White House experience
Harris made clear she believes she has the qualifications for the job. “I served for four years being a heartbeat away from the presidency of the United States,” she said. “I spent countless hours in my West Wing office, footsteps away from the Oval Office. I spent countless hours in the Oval Office and the Situation Room. I know what the job is. And I know what it requires.”
She also laid out how she is approaching the decision. “I am thinking about it in the context of who and where and how can the best job be done for the American people,” Harris said, per the AP. “That’s how I’m thinking about it. I’ll keep you posted.”
Harris also used the appearance to sharply criticize President Donald Trump, telling the audience that he “lied” about lowering the cost of living and had dragged the country into what she called a “war of choice” with Iran. She also took aim at congressional Republicans, calling them “feckless” and saying they “want to walk around with their flag pin” while acting “like they’re royalty,” according to the Washington Times.
A packed field is taking shape
Harris was the biggest draw at the NAN convention this week, where more than eight potential 2028 Democratic candidates made appearances. The lineup included Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Rep. Ro Khanna of California, and Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego.
Buttigieg, who spoke shortly after Harris left the stage, faced a room that was about half-empty. Many attendees had left the auditorium to get a photo with Harris. Unlike Harris, Buttigieg laughed off questions about a 2028 run. The contrast in reception between the two was hard to miss.
Sharpton pointed out during Harris’s appearance that she had received more votes in her 2024 loss against Trump than former Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. “Whatever she decides to do, she made a point in history,” Sharpton said.
Where she stands in early polling
Harris leads early 2028 polling by a wide margin, though analysts note that much of her advantage comes from name recognition. A Harvard-Harris poll taken in late March showed her at 41% support among potential Democratic candidates, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom a distant second at 26%, according to the Washington Times. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro came in at 13%, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pulled 7%.
Still, not everyone in the party is rallying behind a Harris comeback. Some Democrats have already pivoted toward a newer generation of leaders, pointing to her loss across all seven swing states in November 2024 as a reason for a fresh start.
Since leaving office, Harris has launched a political action committee, released a campaign memoir titled 107 Days, and made multiple trips across the South. She is also scheduled to appear at Democratic Party events in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia in the coming weeks, CNN reported.
Republicans, for their part, dismissed the entire convention. RNC national press secretary Kiersten Pels said the Democrats were “parading Kamala Harris and a roster of failed governors trying to outrun their own records,” as reported by Fox News.
The 2028 primary season won’t officially get underway until after November’s midterm elections. But as this week’s gathering made clear, the race has already started, and Melania Trump isn’t the only one fielding pointed political questions these days. With Harris now openly saying she’s in consideration, the political world is already buzzing about who’s next.
