Staff Reports
Outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris is preparing to depart the political landscape of Washington, D.C., on January 20, holding no official title. Still, one can’t help but wonder if she will follow in the rather illustrious footsteps of former vice presidents who have found varying degrees of success in their post-VP endeavors. After all, isn’t it every politician’s dream to see their name on the ballot again, if only for their own amusement?
Harris’s political resume—which, ironically, thrives on identity politics rather than accomplishments—began as a senator from California before she hopped onto the Biden train as vice president. Now, with her term winding down and her reputation scrambling to catch a ride, she’s reportedly contemplating a gubernatorial run in California for the 2026 elections or a snappy comeback in the form of a presidential campaign in 2028. This déjà vu for Harris isn’t exactly shocking, considering that many vice presidents have had their own second acts. However, they also had some semblance of success to build on.
Politico reports that Kamala Harris is instructing her advisers and allies to keep her political options open. This includes another run for president in 2028: “I am staying in the fight,” she reportedly says.
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/DZNsfvxC91
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Take the case of Richard Nixon, a man who went from vice president under Eisenhower to a destined loser before reinventing himself as a presidential powerhouse. After losing his gubernatorial bid in California in 1962, Nixon declared he would no longer face the media. Yet, in a plot twist worthy of a Hollywood script, he made one of the greatest comebacks in political history, eventually reclaiming the presidency in 1968. Of course, Harris would probably prefer to forget how her party is currently teetering on the brink of chaos, given her party’s predictable pattern of disaster and internal strife.
Hubert Humphrey is another example of a vice president who simply wouldn’t stay down. He lost the presidential contest to Nixon in 1968 but quickly returned to Washington, this time as a senator, where he continued to put his foot in the Democratic Party’s mouth during the tumultuous years that followed. The common thread between these men is their fight to reclaim political relevance after their terms. Harris seems to be banking on the goodwill of California’s voters, hoping that flashiness trumps her empty political shell. Yet, in an era known for its swift political burnouts, the odds may not be in her favor.
Levi Morton, a vice president from the 19th century, serves as an example of how to escape political obscurity. After a single term in the VP seat, Morton bounced back from erstwhile failure and snagged the governorship of New York in 1894. Notably, no one is mistaking Kamala Harris for Levi Morton. The latter had a track record while Harris has struggled to make her mark, leaving many to question if she’s merely auditioning for another failure.
Today’s former vice presidents are generally opting out of running again. Examples abound, from Mike Pence’s ill-fated attempts for the GOP nomination to Joe Biden’s quiet, four-year hiatus before snagging the presidency. Even Dick Cheney, arguably one of the most influential vice presidents in history, opted against throwing his hat back in the ring after his term ended. In sharp contrast to these seasoned political veterans, Harris appears to be blocking out any serious self-reflection—perhaps believing that the California sunshine will magically illuminate her path back to power.
As Harris prepares to leave her vice presidential role, her subsequent choices are bound to attract attention—and maybe even some laughter. Will she make a political bid that will leave an imprint, or will she fade into the political wilderness along with her party’s credibility? And for Americans paying attention, the question remains: does anyone really want a second serving of the undercooked political soufflé that is Kamala Harris?
