Former Vice President Kamala Harris is facing growing skepticism within her own political circle as she considers another bid for the White House, with her husband reportedly expressing doubts and some major Democratic donors warning that her candidacy would face a difficult path.

According to people familiar with private conversations, Emhoff has told others that he would prefer Harris not run for president again. Although he is expected to support her if she decides to enter the race, his reported reservations reflect concerns about the personal and political costs of another campaign.

Harris has not ruled out running in 2028 and has taken several steps that could prepare her for a campaign. She has met with major donors, worked with political advisers, hired staff and traveled to battleground states to campaign for Democratic candidates ahead of the November midterm elections.

Publicly, Harris has maintained that her immediate focus is the midterms. At a recent NAACP event in Michigan, she said she had not decided whether to run again and argued that Democrats first needed to get through the 2026 elections.

Still, her continued political activity has prompted questions about whether she is quietly preparing for another presidential bid. Some donors have directly told Harris that a campaign would be a long shot, raising concerns about whether she could secure the financial backing necessary to compete in a crowded Democratic primary.

Harris's 2024 presidential campaign ended in defeat against President Donald Trump after she replaced then-President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee following his withdrawal from the race. She became the nominee without a competitive primary, leaving limited time to establish her own campaign message before the general election.

That loss continues to complicate her prospects. Some Democrats believe the party needs a new generation of candidates rather than revisiting a nominee who already lost a general election. Others argue Harris deserves another opportunity after taking over a campaign with little time remaining before Election Day.

The potential field for 2028 is also expected to be competitive, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom among the Democrats considering a run. Newsom has said he would not run if Harris entered the race, a position that could have significant implications for the party's early primary dynamics.

Despite the doubts, Harris retains support among important Democratic constituencies and has led several early hypothetical primary polls. However, polling conducted years before the election does not guarantee future support, and the size of her donor network does not necessarily mean major contributors will finance another campaign.

For now, Harris has left the door open while continuing to raise her profile through fundraising appearances, political events and campaign work for fellow Democrats. Whether she ultimately runs again remains uncertain, but the reported reservations from Emhoff and some donors illustrate the resistance she could face even within her own party.