What will Kamala Harris do now? Next steps after election defeat

vice president Kamala Harris failed in her bid to become the next president, and will occur on January 20, 2025. she will leave political office for the first time since 2004.

Harris served as San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general and junior senator from the Golden State before being elected vice president in 2020, achieving a number of historic firsts along the way: the first woman, African American and Indian American in any of the first two office and the last one. She was also the first Indian-American senator.

When President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-Elect JD Vance If she enters the White House early next year, Harris’ 20 years of uninterrupted public service will be interrupted, but that doesn’t mean she won’t return to the political stage in the future. In her concession speech on November 6, Harris said: “I recognize this election, I do not recognize the fight that fueled this campaign—the fight: the fight for freedom, for opportunity, for justice and the dignity of all people. to fight for the ideals that are at the core of our nation, ideals that reflect America at its best. This is a fight I will never give up.”

With this in mind, Newsweek is considering the Democrat’s possible next steps.

run for president again

It’s a bold choice, but it worked for Trump. Names of Democratic Party ticket leaders in 2028 already scatteredAnd while Harris may seem like damaged goods at this point, four years is a long time to improve public opinion. And the final projected results in some of the most important 2024 swing states look very close: Trump won by 0.9 percentage points in Wisconsin, 1.4 percentage points in Michigan and two points in Pennsylvania, according to the Associated Press.

By the end of his second term, Trump will no longer be eligible to run for president, having exhausted the two-term limit for both the Democratic and Democratic nominations. republican candidates will be those who have not yet been president (provided that the president Joe Biden does not make a surprise return).

Running for the presidency again has repeatedly helped Biden, who twice failed to win the presidency before being ultimately elected, and it has clearly worked for Trump himself, too. If Harris is confident in her ability to lead, the next cycle could see another bid for the White House.

run for governor

If four years is too long to wait, the opportunity to become a leader may come sooner, a little closer to home.

California Governor Gavin Newsomone of the names mentioned for DemocratsNominated for president in 2028, he steps down at the end of his term in 2026 because California state law limits a governor to two terms.

That means the Democratic primary for governor will be widely contested, and Harris’ high name recognition, fundraising credentials and credentials in California will make her a strong contender if she wants to enter the leadership race in her home state.

As one of the bluest states in the US, many expect the winner of the Democratic primary to win the general election there.

Create a fund

While starting a charity or organization is usually reserved for former presidents, there is nothing stopping Harris from starting her own foundation to address the issues she campaigned on.

Foundations were a reliable way for retired commanders-in-chief to remain relevant. Despite the unsuccessful presidency, former President Jimmy Carter Foundationwhich provides international assistance in a wide range of policy areas, has radically improved Carter’s public image since his single term in office.

The Carter Center, which builds sustainable housing and prevents the spread of disease in developing countries, led to the former president receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

Failed presidential candidates have also created companies to solve specific problems, with former Vice President Al Gorewho lost by a small margin George Bush in 2000, as vice president, founding the Climate Action Alliance.

Throughout his political career and presidential campaign, Gore has been a strong advocate for environmental issues, and this nonprofit was an extension of that effort. Harris might be tempted to do something similar on her core issues, such as women’s rights.

Retire

A presidential campaign is a grueling process, and Harris may decide that 20 years of public service in all three branches of government is enough.

Hillary Clinton made a similar calculation after losing the 2016 presidential election. After a long history in Senate representing New York and the former President’s seat Barack ObamaIn the Cabinet, Clinton, following her defeat, focused her efforts on writing books, speaking tours, and creating Forward Together, a political organization aimed at promoting progressive values ​​and supporting like-minded groups.

The outgoing vice president may also decide that this path is the most attractive.

Newsweek reached out to the Harris campaign for comment via email after hours.

What can Kamala Harris learn from Richard Nixon?

After losing the 1960 presidential election to John F. Kennedy, then-Vice President Richard Nixon initially returned to California and re-entered the practice of law. He remained politically active, campaigning for Republican candidates and speaking at events.

In 1962, Nixon ran for governor of California but lost to incumbent Pat Brown. After this defeat, he told the press, “You won’t have Nixon anymore,” signaling what was widely believed to be his retirement from politics. Nixon moved to New York and joined a prestigious law firm, where he developed connections with influential political and business figures.

During this period, he traveled a lot, improving his experience in foreign policy. By 1968, he had successfully rebuilt his political base by appealing to a conservative and disaffected electorate. Nixon took advantage of the turbulent social climate and divisions over the Vietnam War by positioning himself as a unifier promising “law and order.”

This strategic comeback led to his successful presidential campaign in 1968, where he defeated Vice President Hubert Humphrey to become the 37th President of the United States.

The Nixon years after the 1960s were marked by resilience and strategic maneuvering that ultimately paved the way for his return to power.

Do you have a story we should cover? Do you have any questions about Vice President Kamala Harris or the US election? Contact [email protected].