Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said on Wednesday she will not run for governor of California in 2026, closing months of speculation about a potential bid to succeed term-limited Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. “For now, my leadership — and public service — will not be in elected office,” Harris said in a written statement released 30 July. Harris had been weighing the race since at least June and had sounded out donors and former state officials about what she could accomplish in Sacramento. Her decision clears the path for other Democrats who have already moved toward campaigns, including former U.S. Representative Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. By standing aside, the 60-year-old former senator preserves the option of re-entering national politics. Advisers say she will focus on fundraising and campaigning for Democratic candidates in 2026 while considering whether to seek the party’s presidential nomination in 2028.