Doug Emhoff urges Kamala Harris to skip 2028 presidential run
Doug Emhoff, husband of former Vice President Kamala Harris, privately told confidants he would prefer she not run for president in 2028, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.
The comments surface as senior Democratic donors have warned Harris that a second White House campaign would be a "long shot," reflecting lingering concerns after her 2024 defeat to President Donald Trump.
Harris, who has not announced a decision, reiterated her uncertainty at a recent NAACP event in Michigan, saying, "I have not decided if I'm going to run again." She added that the 2028 election "won't matter if we don't get through '26," emphasizing the importance of the upcoming midterms.
Despite the loss, Harris continues to lead hypothetical Democratic primary polls by double digits, according to recent surveys. Yet the same reports note that betting markets rank her odds at only six percent, far behind potential rivals such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez.
Emhoff, who returned to his legal practice as a partner at Los Angeles firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher, is expected to support Harris if she ultimately decides to run, sources close to him said.
The former second gentleman and Harris also recently purchased a Malibu mansion for roughly $8 million, a move noted amid discussions of her political future.
In the weeks leading up to the November midterms, Harris made appearances at private fundraisers for Democratic candidates in Wisconsin and Nevada, and joined a get‑out‑the‑vote call with the Democratic National Committee, urging volunteers to knock on doors in swing states.
While some of Harris’s allies remain skeptical about a third presidential bid, her continued engagement with donors and campaign infrastructure suggests she is keeping options open.
The next steps for Harris remain unclear, but political observers will watch how she balances fundraising, voter outreach, and the counsel of close advisors, including Emhoff, in the months ahead.
