With former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris back in the conversation as a 2028 U.S. presidential candidate, divisions within the Democratic Party have surfaced. In U.S. political circles, assessments of Harris are sharply split, and some say this underscores once again the Democrats' shortage of viable next-generation contenders.
On the 18th (local time), Axios reported that many Democratic leaders and donors in Washington, D.C., view former Vice President Kamala Harris as a "political liability" tied to former President Joe Biden. They say Harris bears the burden of the Biden administration's low approval ratings and the shadow of the 2024 election loss. Some senior Democrats have voiced skepticism about Harris' bid for a comeback, publicly noting that her chances of winning are low.
The core Democratic base, however, is reacting differently. During Harris' recent public swing through the American South, large rallies formed around Black voters and white women voters. Thousands turned out for events in Memphis, Jackson and New Orleans, and Harris received cheers that were virtually indistinguishable from campaign stump fervor. Among Black voters, who have played a decisive role in Democratic primaries, the view persists that Harris remains a "symbolic figure."
Polling experts note that Harris enjoys overwhelming support among Black women voters within the Democratic Party. This aligns with the Southern Black voter landscape that played a decisive role in elevating former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden as Democratic nominees. Still, some point out that while Harris' popularity in the South may help in the primaries, it is uncertain whether that will translate into general-election strength given the region's Republican tilt.
Inside the party, efforts to keep Harris in check are also gathering steam. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, appearing on a podcast that recently hosted a conservative figure, criticized Harris' past remarks and effectively distanced himself. Observers see this as a sign that jockeying among the party's next-in-line hopefuls has already begun.
In and outside political circles, many also see the controversy as tied to the Democrats' structural talent shortage. Since the 2024 election, concerns have mounted about the lack of next-generation leaders. When party approval was slipping, the shortlist appeared so limited that relatively young progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and even octogenarian Sen. Bernie Sanders were floated as potential alternatives.
In this climate, the fact that Harris is again being mentioned as a strong contender is seen by some as evidence that the party's generational shift is stalling. Within the party, self-criticism is growing that, rather than elevating "new faces," the system is hardening in a way that repeatedly summons already vetted but controversial figures.
Harris has not made a formal announcement, but she has been assertively raising her political profile with a recent Southern tour and a book promotion swing. She has continued to engage voters, emphasizing, "To be a leader of the United States, you have to understand the South."