Former Vice President Kamala Harris is facing reservations within her own circle over a potential 2028 presidential campaign, with her husband, Doug Emhoff, privately expressing a preference that she not run again, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
Emhoff has told people privately that he would prefer Harris not seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the conversations. However, people close to Emhoff expect him to support his wife if she decides to launch another campaign.
Harris has not announced whether she will seek the presidency again, but her recent political activities have fueled speculation about her plans. She has been speaking with major donors, hiring staff and traveling to battleground states to campaign for Democratic candidates ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections.
A spokesman for Harris declined to comment to The Wall Street Journal on the report.
Harris keeps her 2028 options open
Harris has publicly maintained that her immediate priority is the 2026 midterm elections, in which Democrats are seeking to regain control of Congress and win gubernatorial races.
At a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) event in Michigan in September, Harris said she had not decided whether to run for president again.
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“I have not decided if I’m going to run again,” she said. “I do sincerely believe ’28 won’t matter if we don’t get through ’26.”
Despite her public uncertainty, Harris has continued to engage with Democratic donors and party organizations. In recent weeks, she has attended private fundraisers for Democratic candidates, including Wisconsin gubernatorial nominee David Crowley and Nevada gubernatorial nominee Aaron Ford.
She also participated in a Democratic National Committee get-out-the-vote call, urging more than 2,000 volunteers to work toward flipping seats across a dozen states.
Harris is expected to campaign for Ford in Nevada and Sen. Jon Ossoff in Georgia ahead of the November elections. She is also scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Fulton County Democratic Party’s annual fundraiser in Atlanta, according to the newspaper.
Democratic Party divided over another Harris campaign
Harris’ potential return to the presidential race has prompted debate among Democrats, with some party members questioning whether she should lead the ticket again after losing the 2024 election to President Donald Trump.
Harris became the Democratic nominee in 2024 after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race following mounting concerns about his candidacy. The party rallied behind her without holding an open presidential primary, leaving her with approximately 107 days to campaign against Trump.
Trump subsequently won both the Electoral College and the popular vote, prompting a period of internal reflection among Democrats over the party’s electoral strategy and leadership.
According to The Wall Street Journal, some Democrats, including people who remain close to Harris, believe the party should nominate a new candidate in 2028. Unlike the circumstances surrounding her nomination in 2024, Harris would likely face a competitive field if she entered the next Democratic primary.
Some donors have also directly expressed doubts about her chances, describing another presidential campaign as a long shot, the newspaper reported.
However, Harris continues to lead in many hypothetical national polls of potential Democratic presidential contenders for 2028. She also retains support among important Democratic constituencies, particularly Black women.
Longtime Democratic strategist Donna Brazile, who remains in touch with Harris, told the newspaper that Harris has been campaigning where she is needed and helping Democratic candidates on the ballot in 2026.
Gavin Newsom and other potential contenders
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, another potential contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, has indicated that he would not enter the race if Harris decided to run.
In a September interview with CNN, Newsom said a contest between two Californians in the Democratic primary would benefit other candidates, describing it as a contest with no upside for either of them.
His position could affect the potential field of Democratic contenders, although Harris has not confirmed her plans.
READ: Kamala Harris: Trump ‘made us unreliable’ to allies on war leadership (April 20, 2026)
Harris has also been working with political advisers, including chief of staff Candace Bond and communications director Eduardo Negrón, as she maintains her political profile following her departure from the White House.
Emhoff’s concerns and their political implications
Emhoff, who served as the second gentleman during the Biden administration, has previously supported Harris through major political campaigns and public scrutiny. In her memoir, 107 Days, Harris described the personal strain that the 2024 campaign placed on their family.
The Wall Street Journal’s report suggests that Emhoff has reservations about another presidential campaign, even as people close to him expect that he would stand behind Harris if she chose to proceed.
For now, Harris’ political activity remains focused publicly on helping Democrats in the 2026 midterms. Whether she translates that work into a presidential campaign will depend on her decision and the response from Democratic voters, donors and party leaders.