Former Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani last week, according to reports confirmed by multiple news outlets, in what political observers are interpreting as early moves toward a potential 2028 presidential campaign. The call was first reported by Axios and independently confirmed by Fox News Digital.
The outreach to Mamdani is not an isolated event. Harris has been conducting closed-door meetings with progressive groups and elected officials who did not fully support her during the 2024 presidential race, when she replaced President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee before losing to Donald Trump in November.
Harris also met privately with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., at a Black women empowerment summit in Chicago, Axios first reported and Fox News Digital confirmed. Additionally, Harris has reached out to pro-Palestinian groups that were part of the "Uncommitted Movement" that emerged during Biden's handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive allies view Harris's outreach as a strategic recalibration after her 2024 campaign struggled to energize parts of the Democratic base. Mamdani has emerged as a significant figure in progressive politics since taking office, with socialist-aligned candidates he endorsed winning their races in New York Democratic primaries last month.
Democratic strategists who support Harris argue that building bridges with progressive factions now could strengthen her position if she decides to run. In April, at the National Action Network's 35th Anniversary Convention, Harris addressed speculation directly when asked by Rev. Al Sharpton about a potential 2028 candidacy.
"I might. I might. I'm thinking about it... I'll keep you posted," Harris said at that event, where supporters greeted her with chants of "run again."
Progressive groups that received outreach from Harris described the conversations as constructive, though details of those discussions have not been made public.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican officials and conservative commentators quickly criticized Harris's meetings with progressive leaders. Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters said in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital that the outreach demonstrates where the Democratic Party is heading.
"The fact that she's courting people like Mamdani, these socialists and communists, it goes back to the radical leftists, because the Democrats are in big trouble as a party," Gruters said. "They're in the death spiral, because now they have these people inside their tent."
GOP political strategist Nathan Brand posted on social media platform X: "Kamala Harris 2020 was desperate, Kamala Harris 2024 was pathetic, Kamala Harris 2028 will be unhinged."
Republicans argue that courting progressive factions could complicate any general election coalition. Gruters said the outreach shows Harris must appeal to radical elements within her party to secure a nomination.
"She has to kowtow to these radicals to try to win," he continued. "That's why we have to fight... We have to win to save the country."
What the Numbers Show
Harris's 2024 presidential campaign faced challenges mobilizing key Democratic constituencies. Exit polls showed decreased support among some progressive voters compared to Biden's 2020 performance.
Mamdani, who was sworn into office in January, has seen his political influence grow. A clean sweep of candidates he endorsed winning their New York Democratic primary races last month demonstrated significant organizational strength within progressive circles.
Harris made stops in South Carolina, a crucial early primary state, less than a week after her comments at the National Action Network convention sparked 2028 speculation. No official polls yet exist on Harris's standing for a potential 2028 presidential race, as no candidates have formally announced.
The Bottom Line
The outreach to Mamdani and other progressive leaders signals that Harris is actively laying groundwork for a possible 2028 presidential campaign, focusing specifically on constituencies that proved challenging during her abbreviated 2024 run. Whether these efforts result in a formal announcement remains to be seen.
Republicans have signaled they will frame any Harris candidacy as representing the most progressive wings of the Democratic Party, while allies argue she is simply working to unify a broad coalition. The coming months are expected to bring more clarity on whether Harris and other potential candidates will formally enter the race.