Former Vice President Kamala Harris is reportedly reaching out to influential progressive leaders, including some of her former critics, as speculation grows over a possible 2028 presidential campaign.
According to Axios, Harris spoke with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani last Thursday, two days after candidates he endorsed won three Democratic congressional primaries in New York. A person familiar with the conversation told the outlet the two held a lengthy discussion about the future of the Democratic Party.
Axios also reported that Harris and Mamdani have been exchanging text messages over the past several months, signaling an ongoing line of communication.
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The reported outreach comes as Israel emerged as a defining issue in all three primary races, with candidates who took a more critical stance toward Israel securing victories. Since the contests were held in heavily Democratic House districts, the nominees are widely expected to win the general election in November and enter Congress.
Beyond Mamdani, Harris has reportedly held extended meetings with prominent progressive figures, including pro-Palestinian activists, as she weighs another White House bid.
Among those she has met are Abbas Alawieh, co-founder of the Uncommitted Movement, and James Zogby, a longtime advocate for Palestinian rights and a member of the Democratic National Committee, according to Axios.
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The meetings are significant because the Uncommitted Movement declined to endorse Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign after her campaign rejected the group’s request to include a Palestinian speaker at the Democratic National Convention.
Speaking to Axios, Alawieh said he “reiterated my longstanding position that American tax dollars should never be used to target civilians or destroy entire communities” during his discussions with Harris.
The outreach signals an effort to rebuild ties with the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, many of whom criticized Harris during the 2024 campaign for not taking a stronger stance in support of the Palestinian cause.