Former Vice President Kamala Harris has not decided whether she will seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, but most of her former senior aides and advisers surveyed by Axios believe she will stay out of the race. In a survey of eight former aides and advisers, only one said Harris would probably run, while two viewed the decision as a toss-up and five expected her not to enter.

Harris remains a potential factor in the early Democratic field, and her decision could affect the plans of other prospective candidates. She has recently campaigned for Democratic candidates ahead of the 2026 midterms, appeared on podcasts and promoted her book, though some former aides told Axios those activities appear aimed at maintaining her political influence rather than building a presidential campaign.

Former staffers said they would expect a more aggressive operation if Harris were preparing to run, including hiring additional staff, traveling more extensively and taking more frequent positions on major policy issues. One former aide characterized her current political activity as doing the minimum necessary to remain part of the 2028 discussion.

Another consideration is Harris' 2024 defeat to President Donald Trump. A new campaign could bring renewed scrutiny of that loss, while Axios reported that some major donors who previously supported Harris are considering other Democratic contenders, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.

At the same time, Harris has continued making contacts that leave the door open to a future campaign. Axios reported in July that she had reached out to Democratic officials and progressive activists while discussing issues including China, artificial intelligence and Venezuela. Her team has also pushed back on the idea that fundraising would prevent another campaign, pointing to her large email donor base.

Harris' eventual decision could also directly affect Newsom's plans. The California governor said earlier this month that he would not run for president in 2028 if Harris enters the race, citing the overlap between their supporters, donors, and political networks.