Kamala Harris ran for US president and lost. Where does she go from here?

Kamala Harris has joined the list of men and women who ran for President of the United States and lost.

The Vice President not only lost the Electoral College vote to Donald Trump, but she also became the first Democrat in decades to lose the popular vote.

Come January, Harris will be moving on.

“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign," Harris said while delivering her concession speech. “The fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness, and the dignity of all people. A fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation, the ideals that reflect America at our best. That is a fight I will never give up.”

“Hear me when I say, the light of America’s promise will always burn bright. As long as we never give up. And as long as we keep fighting,” she added.

But what does Harris do next?

Let’s take a closer look

First, let’s take a look at the recent Democratic candidates who ran and lost – Hillary Clinton in 2016, John Kerry in 2004 and Al Gore in 2000.

Hillary Clinton

In 2016, Hillary Clinton lost to Trump.

Hillary attended Trump’s inauguration and then bowed out of active politics for a while.

Hillary wrote a book entitled “What Happened,” as per The New York Times.

The book, which focused on her losing campaign for president, was published in 2017.

Hillary in 2017 also announced her return to politics with the announcement of the formation of the Onward Together Political Action Committee.

She also penned a number of op eds in prestigious outlets such as The Atlantic, the Washington Post, Foreign Affairs and The New York Times.

She also appeared in the Hulu documentary Hilary which was released in 2020.

John Kerry

In 2004, John Kerry failed to dislodge incumbent President George W Bush in 2004.

Like Harris, Kerry too lost both the Electoral College and the popular vote to his opponent.

Kerry, a war hero, then returned to the Senate.

Though Kerry left the possibility of running in 2008 open, he eventually endorsed Barack Obama – who won the nomination.

Though Kerry was rumoured to be Obama’s pick for his running mate, the young African-American legislator ultimately went with Biden.

Kerry also lost out on the position of Secretary of State to Obama’s primary rival Hillary.

Kerry during the 2012 campaign would help Obama prepare as a stand-in for Mitt Romney.

Obama after his re-election, would offer Kerry the position of Secretary of State.

Kerry, who would ultimately be confirmed by the Senate, would succeed Hillary.

Kerry as secretary of state signed the Paris Climate Accords.

He would serve in the position till the end of Obama’s term 2017.

Kerry in 2018 published his memoir.

Kerry served as the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate in the Biden administration from 2021 to 2024.

Al Gore

Like Kamala Harris, Gore too served as Vice-President of the United States.

Gore lost his 2000 campaign for president to Bush in an extremely controversial manner.

Though Gore considered running again in 2004, he ultimately decided against it.

In 2006, Gore released the documentary An Inconvenient Truth.

The climate change film would win the Academy Award for best documentary.

Gore has since repeatedly declined to run for president.

Instead, he has turned to climate change activism.

Gore has invested in a number of green energy companies including $150 million in the Indian renewable energy firm Continuum Green Energy and founded the Generation Investment Management – one of the biggest sustainable-investing firms.

Will Kamala run again in 2028?

The Democrats, at this moment, do not seem eager for Harris to run again in 2028.

This is understandable given how deeply Harris underperformed compared to Biden in 2020 and their desire to move on from the administration going forward.

Harris’s own disastrous 2020 campaign for president does not inspire confidence about her ability to win the Democratic nomination in 2028.

It was Biden who picked Harris as his running mate in 2020.

This time, too, Harris did not win the nomination on her own strength against a field of contenders.

Instead, Harris, the sitting Vice President, was anointed as the 2024 nominee by President Joe Biden and powerful party elders like Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi.

Harris could very well run for president in 2028.

However the chances of her actually winning the nomination look slim.

Return to Senate?

Though this is technically a step down – as Vice President Harris is currently the head of the Senate – she could very well return to the Senate.

Harris, remember, was the junior senator from California from 2017 to 2021.

It would also be a role she is comfortable with given that has been a public servant for the past two decades.

Harris could look to emulate icons from her own party like Ted Kennedy.

Kennedy ran for ran in 1980 in the Democratic primary campaign for president but lost to incumbent Jimmy Carter.

By the end of his career, he was widely hailed as the Lion of the Senate.

She could even look to opposition figures like John McCain who lost to Obama but left a legacy in the Senate to be proud of.

However, Harris currently faces a hurdle.

Senators are elected for six year terms.

And as the New York Times has noted, California currently has two senators currently serving the first term.

Governor of California?

A more intriguing option would be Harris eyeing the Governorship of California.

This is especially because current Governor Gavin Newsom, whose term expires in 2027, could be a potential front-runner for the Democrats in 2028.

History shows Harris would not be the only one to make such a move.

Richard M Nixon too ran for Governor of California after losing the 1960 election to John F Kennedy.

However, Nixon came up short in the race.

He then famously announced his retirement from politics, telling reporters “you won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore.”

Nixon’s retirement didn’t stick. He ran for president in 1968 and won.

The rest is history.

Join private sector or work at a think-tank?

Harris could also go another way – chasing the big bucks by taking up a lucrative job in the private sector.

The former prosecutor could join a white shoe law firm or even take up a job as a lobbyist, as per The New York Times.

Harris could alternately work at a prestigious think-tank – however this might be the least likeliest option.

Harris could also take up a position on the lecture circuit.

Former presidential candidates like Hillary have raked in millions of dollars simply for giving speeches to corporates.

Those who know Harris best say she will come to a decision – sooner rather than later.

“I believe that she is more respected than ever within our party,” Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis of California told The New York Times. Kounalakis, a longtime backer of Harris, added, “I think the question really is, what does she want to do? Right now I’m sure she is simply trying to process. But I have no doubt that she will have an answer to this in the coming months.”

“She provides immense value to the party,” Representative Barbara Lee of California told the newspaper. “Her background, her understanding of intersectional policymaking, and her ability to build coalitions are her biggest strengths. She is a fighter for the people. She has, and will continue to, help make life better for everyone, regardless of their background. Whatever she does next, I know she will continue to inspire.”

With inputs from agencies

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