As the midterm elections approach, many politicians and pundits are also turning their attention to 2028 and the upcoming presidential campaign. Much of the speculation on the Democratic side has centered on former Vice President Kamala Harris and whether she will make another run for the presidency. Some recent moves by Harris suggest that she might be exploring another campaign and trying to shore up progressive support for the effort.

Harris called Mamdani as Democratic socialists surge in primary races

Axios first reported that Harris had recently held a series of conversations with progressive figures in the Democratic Party, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and pro-Palestinian activists.

According to a source familiar with the conversation, Harris called Mamdani last Thursday (June 25) for a discussion that focused on the future of the Democratic Party. Harris and Mamdani also discussed having a longer conversation in the future, the source said. Harris has also texted Mamdani in recent months, the Axios report notes.

Harris endorsed Mamdani during his mayoral campaign earlier than some other major Democratic leaders, though her statements about the then-candidate were seen as “lukewarm” by some. Mamdani talked about his recent contact with Harris during an appearance on The Clay Cane Show.

“The vice president reached out to have a conversation,” Mamdani said to the radio host. “We’ve had a brief conversation. We’ve been in touch over the last few months, and I really do appreciate her outreach.”

The conversation comes as Mamdani has emerged as one of the most prominent figures in both the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America. A trio of DSA-associated candidates endorsed by Mamdani recently swept Democratic congressional primaries in New York City, establishing Mamdani as an influential figure in Democratic politics whose support can influence progressive voters.

The meeting with Mamdani follows an April meeting between Harris and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, another DSA member and one of the most prominent progressives in the Democratic Party. Ocasio-Cortez backed Harris’ campaign in 2024, and her support would likely be key for a candidate seeking progressive backing. The New York congresswoman has so far not addressed speculation that she could run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.

Reaching out to pro-Palestinian activists

Axios also reported that Harris, as well as members of her team, have been meeting and speaking with various pro-Palestinian activists over several months.

Recently, Harris met in Detroit with Abbas Alawieh, a Democratic candidate for Michigan’s state Senate. Alawieh was a co-founder of the Uncommitted Movement, which promotes Palestinian rights and a lasting end to the conflict and which threatened to withhold support from Democrats who did not actively support those goals. The movement encouraged supporters to cast “uncommitted” write-in votes in the 2024 Democratic primaries.

Harris also met with James Zogby, a longtime member of the Democratic National Committee and co-founder of the Arab American Institute. Zogby was one of the voices pushing for a Palestinian American to speak during the 2024 Democratic National Convention. He called the rejection of that idea a “bone-headed, unforced error” by the Harris campaign.

Harris clashed with pro-Palestinian activists during the 2024 campaign over the vice president’s stance on Israel’s war in Gaza. Although Harris called for a ceasefire and spoke about the suffering of Palestinians during the conflict, critics argued that she did not sufficiently distance herself from the policies of then-President Joe Biden, whom pro-Palestinian activists accused of supporting an Israel-led genocide against Palestinians during the conflict.

Some pundits have cited Harris’ association with the war in Gaza as playing a role in her 2024 election loss by causing her to lose the support of some pro-Palestinian voters and other progressives. While it is unclear how large of an impact this had on the final outcome, Harris’ stance on Israel and Gaza has been a prominent talking point among progressives, and support for Israel has been a defining issue in a number of Democratic primaries during the current election cycle. Harris would certainly have to address the issue and attempt to satisfy skeptics during a potential 2028 presidential run.

The recent conversations Harris has had with prominent progressive figures do not mean she is definitely running in 2028. Harris has so far dropped hints that she might run, but she has not publicly committed to doing so. Nevertheless, it appears that she is at least laying the groundwork for an appeal to the party’s progressive wing, which would be a necessary step for a serious 2028 campaign.