Chicago – April 12, 2025
In a recent interview, Rep. James Clyburn praised Kamala Harris as a “great candidate” with “tremendous talent” but criticized her campaign team for not listening to key advice during her 2024 presidential run. While he declined to offer guidance on her political future, he expressed confidence in her potential for future races, including a possible 2026 California gubernatorial bid or another shot at the presidency.
Clyburn said Harris was let down by staff who ignored insights from experienced voices, including himself and former President Bill Clinton, particularly concerning outreach in rural areas. He believes those missteps hindered her campaign despite her strong candidacy.
A new book, Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House, reveals that Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, were confident they would win the election and were shocked by their loss. Parnes noted that campaign staff felt misled by leadership, having been assured that things were going well, only to face unexpected defeat.
In private, Harris reportedly suggested that she could have won if she had more time and if President Biden had not sought re-election.
