As the wheels turn for the 2028 presidential race, likely Democrat front-runner Kamala Harris may have a wrench thrown into her political ambitions.
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, former First Gentleman Doug Emhoff has privately told people he would prefer Harris abstain from running for president again.
BREAKING: Kamala Harris’s husband has privately told people he would prefer she doesn’t run for president again, per WSJ
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) October 10, 2026
WSJ: Vice President Kamala Harris has been laying the groundwork for a potential third presidential campaign. Her husband has privately told some people he would prefer she didn’t run and some donors have told her directly that a bid would be a longshot, according to multiple people familiar with the conversations. Harris has said she is undecided on whether to launch another run for the White House, but she has taken steps that could be a precursor to a presidential campaign, including speaking with major donors, hiring staff and traveling to battleground states to boost Democratic candidates in the November midterm elections.
— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) October 10, 2026
The news comes as Harris has already laid the groundwork for a 2028 presidential bid. She has reportedly begun building a staff of former officials, campaign staffers, and Democrat operatives.
EXCLUSIVE: The team Kamala Harris is building as 2028 speculation ramps up Here's part of the list...more below https://t.co/5KKRuE6ROy
— Zohreen Shah (@Zohreen) October 6, 2026
The Donor Class: Kamala Harris is assembling a team of advisors amid 2028 chatter The Donor Class has learned that a number of former aides to the former vice president are on payroll and others are advising her closely. Most of their names haven't been reported before. According to people familiar with the arrangement, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, her paid staff currently includes but not limited to: -Alexia Lewis, Harris’ former associate advance director -Arianna Felix, former director of correspondence and staff secretary -Brian Fallon, currently running Harris’ Fight for the People PAC, Harris’ former senior adviser and campaign communications director Link to article: https://t.co/zZkgg2zz1G
— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) October 6, 2026
Meanwhile, Democrat leadership appears to be launching a similar bid to back Harris in 2028, as the DNC chose South Carolina as the first presidential primary state for the upcoming cycle. Moving to a Black-heavy state could give Harris a substantial boost in securing the nomination.
DNC committee picks SOUTH CAROLINA as first presidential primary voting state in 2028, beating out Nevada. The vote breakdown: - South Carolina: 26 - Nevada: 19 - New Hampshire: 4 https://t.co/BuM2vhyik7
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) July 24, 2026
It remains to be seen if Emhoff’s desires will be forced to play second fiddle to that of Harris’s and the Democrat Party’s.
