California Republicans Are Praying Kamala Harris Runs for Governor – Here’s Why

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California Republicans, long outgunned in statewide races, are practically praying former Vice President Kamala Harris enters the 2026 governor’s contest — not because they think she’s beatable, but because she’d make the perfect villain.

Harris has yet to declare her intentions but, according to Politico, GOP hopefuls are already treating her like the Democratic frontrunner, tailoring stump speeches and fundraising emails to target her. Her potential candidacy would nationalize a race typically dominated by local issues, injecting it with cash, coverage, and a jolt of MAGA energy.

“She embodies the failures of the past,” conservative commentator Steve Hilton told the outlet.

Hilton launched a gubernatorial campaign centered on what he calls the “disaster” of one-party Democratic rule: “The candidate who’s going to win in 2026… is the change candidate. Kamala Harris… least represents change.”

Harris would enter with towering advantages in terms of name recognition, institutional clout, and access to national fundraising. But Republicans aren’t expecting to win outright. Their hope is that Harris’ polarizing profile could activate donor networks that normally ignore California, generating Fox News airtime and maybe even attention from President Donald Trump himself.

“She’s a lightning rod,” said GOP consultant Dave Gilliard. “Money is the biggest obstacle… but she could attract donors from around the country who might be interested in taking another pound of flesh.”

Republican operatives point to past races where challengers to figures like Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi or Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) raked in small-dollar donations by leaning into anti-establishment fervor. Harris could offer that on a statewide scale, they claim.

Even Trump megadonor Elon Musk, who’s largely stepped back from political giving, might be coaxed back into action, California Republicans said. He’s openly clashed with Harris, most recently over a Wisconsin judicial race.

“She has a chance to be embarrassed even if she wins,” said Kevin Spillane, who once ran a campaign against Harris. “It could be a pyrrhic victory.”