Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates Gain Ground as Kamala Harris Skips CADEM Convention

Former Vice President Kamala Harris’ popularity in both the 2026 California Gubernatorial election and the 2028 presidential election fell at the Democratic Party of California (CADEM) convention during the weekend, with gubernatorial candidates scrambling to gain ground as a result.

While polls before this weekend did show some waning for Harris, her decision not to attend the CADEM convention held in Anaheim only increased the popularity in the gubernatorial race, of the next top 8 candidates for the Democrats all attending. All of them, from former Senator Toni Atkins to former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, attended events, gave speeches and talked to delegates and other attendees while pointing out Harris only appearing in the form of videos on screens. Female candidates were particularly energized, with each hammering home the point of having the first female Governor.

“Two years ago, I launched my campaign to serve as governor of California, and I said all along, my first goal is that we have a woman in the governor’s chair in 2026,” said Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis during a Democratic women’s caucus meeting. “And my second goal is that it’s me.”

High ranking state Democrats at the convention also pointed out that the longer it takes for Harris to decide, the more emboldened candidates will be to stay in the race and challenge Harris. This is especially true with more candidate funds being tied up in the race and slowly growing support as a result.

“There’s some frustration from both the candidates and activists: What’s gonna happen? Is Kamala going to get in? Should I pick a favored candidate? Who’s gonna stay in if Kamala gets in, who’s not?” California Labor Federation head Lorena Gonzalez asked. “And I think that’s shifting. More candidates are looking at staying in, and the longer that this waits, you’ll see more candidates actually stay in the race.”

Harris, Newsom miss convention

Harris’s no-show at the Convention also harmed her possible 2028 presidential aspirations. While California Governor Gavin Newsom didn’t attend because of a Democratic Governors Association conference in Portland, other likely 2028 candidates did. Both New Jersey Senator Corey Booker (D-NJ) and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz gave speeches in Anaheim, with the latter being particularly noteworthy as he was Harris’ running mate in the 2024 election. Both attempted to gain ground in California by attending and hoped to further fracture the state in terms of candidate support, with California already broken in two amongst Democrats  as both Newsom and Harris would need California desperately in a few years time during the primaries.

Especially concerning for Harris going into the convention are recent polling numbers. By aggregate, Harris is still up in the polls, but no longer has the double digit lead she once could claim. By combined polls updated on Monday, Harris is only 4 points ahead of former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. And, even worse for Harris, she is now beginning to lose polls. In a Atlas intel poll released during the weekend, Buttigieg got a surprise first place with 31.5% of the vote, followed by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) grabbing 19.4% of Democrats. In third with 16.6% was Harris.

Overall, Harris’s no show at the convention was not a smart move. While choosing between running for Governor in 2026, running for President in 2028, and retiring from politics has been a huge decision on her for months, even a short visit with a speech would have helped keep her numbers up and leave her in a better place to make her ultimate decision. Instead, her decision in keeping quiet and out of the public eye hurt her in both races.

By comparison, Newsom’s absence, while also notable, came with the reason that there was a meeting of fellow Governors to attend. And while everyone went after Harris for not coming as she had no set prior commitments, Newsom’s absence was seen as understandable. Many seemed relieved that he was doing actual work as Governor during the weekend of the convention instead of one of his other endeavors like podcasting.

“Frankly, I mean, I don’t think governors come every year to the convention,” added Villaraigosa. I think they come during the presidential one, for sure. And then when they’re running, and so I don’t take fault with him for it. I’m assuming he’s got work, a lot of work.”

Nonetheless, he still received some potshots from Gubernatorial candidates since he wasn’t there like Harris.

“I have never stepped foot in the French Laundry, but I grew up in a Chinese laundry that taught me the value of work, of hard work, and it’s a sacrifice that I carry, that my parents made, to be able to, within one generation, see their daughter run for the highest office in California,” said former state Controller Betty Yee in a speech.

Harris is expected to announce her decision on running for Governor by the end of the summer, with the California Republican Party (CAGOP) holding their own convention in Orange County in September.