The Former Vice President Is Campaigning In Michigan, Nevada And Georgia As Democrats Watch For Signs Of Whether She Will Make Another White House Bid
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is stepping back onto the campaign trail ahead of the 2026 midterms, beginning with a high-profile stop in Michigan as questions continue to follow her about a possible 2028 presidential run.
Harris is campaigning Tuesday with Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, one of the battleground states she lost to President Donald Trump during the 2024 election. She is also scheduled to campaign in Nevada and Georgia, two other states that remain important to Democrats nationally.
In Detroit, Harris is expected to join El-Sayed for a roundtable focused on Black maternal health and separately appear at an event hosted by the Detroit branch of the NAACP. El-Sayed, a physician and former Detroit and Wayne County health official, is facing Republican Mike Rogers in a Senate contest that could help determine control of the chamber.
Michigan Carries Political History For Harris
The Michigan stop carries added significance for Harris. Trump defeated her there in 2024, and the state will also be among the early states in Democrats’ next presidential nominating process.
Harris’ 2024 campaign faced particular difficulty in Michigan, where Arab American voters criticized the Biden administration’s support for Israel during the war in Gaza.
Related: Kamala Harris To Campaign With Abdul El-Sayed In Michigan, Spotlight Black Maternal Health
Some Black Democrats in the state, meanwhile, have argued that the “uncommitted” movement protesting that policy weakened support for Harris.
El-Sayed, an outspoken critic of Israel and U.S. arms sales to the country, represents a different wing of the Democratic coalition. His appearance alongside Harris brings together two figures whose political constituencies have sometimes been at odds.
Democrats Debate Harris’ Political Future
Harris has not announced whether she intends to seek the presidency again in 2028, and Democrats remain divided over what role she should play in the party’s future.
Barry Goodman, a Democratic National Committee member from Michigan who previously raised money for President Joe Biden and Harris, told The Associated Press, “I think she’s run her course.”
Iowa Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rob Sand has also publicly rejected the possibility of campaigning with Harris, telling Politico, “No thanks. Let’s move on. We need some new leadership.”
Other Democrats have defended Harris’ decision to take her time. Former Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile has argued that Harris has no deadline for deciding her political future and that prospective presidential candidates should focus first on helping Democrats during the midterms.
Harris has repeatedly indicated that the midterm elections are her immediate priority. Her scheduled stops include campaigning for Nevada Democratic gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford and Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff.
Her Michigan appearance also places her directly into one of the most closely watched Senate contests of 2026. Democrats must retain the Michigan seat and gain four Republican-held seats to take control of the Senate.Kamala Harris To Campaign With Abdul El-Sayed In Michigan, Spotlight Black Maternal Health
