Kamala Harris Becomes Campaign Trail Liability for Democrats
Democratic candidates in Republican-leaning states are distancing themselves from Kamala Harris ahead of midterms, with Iowa and Alaska hopefuls rejecting her endorsements despite her status as a 2028 frontrunner.
According to Mabinty Quarshie writing in Washington Examiner, Harris remains a frontrunner for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, but her association with the Biden administration and her 2024 electoral defeat are prompting wariness among Democrats fighting to hold must-win seats.
The political awkwardness became apparent when Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola rejected a Harris fundraising email sent on her behalf. A Peltola spokesperson told local media that Mary isn’t seeking endorsements from anyone from the Lower 48, emphasizing her focus remains squarely on Alaska. Harris lost the state to President Donald Trump by 13 points in 2024.
In Iowa, the divide is even more pronounced. A campaign spokesperson for Rob Sand, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, confirmed to the Washington Examiner that his campaign wants no endorsement from Harris, no campaign rally appearances, and no involvement whatsoever. This represents a dramatic shift from 2018, when Harris actively supported Sand’s successful run for Iowa state auditor. Trump won Iowa by 13.2 points over Harris in 2024.
Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek is taking the same approach. His campaign confirmed he has no plans to appear with Harris and is not seeking her support. Turek, an Iowa state representative, outperformed Harris by approximately 13 points in his own district during 2024, demonstrating the vastly different political coalitions the two Democrats attract.
Registration Advantage Drives Caution
Timothy Hagle, a political scientist at the University of Iowa, explained in an interview that Republicans hold roughly a 190,000-voter registration advantage in the state, a gap that has expanded over recent election cycles.
Iowa Democrats appear to be gaining momentum despite the Harris problem. The Cook Political Report recently moved the Iowa gubernatorial race from “toss-up” to “leans Democratic” and shifted the Senate race from “leans Republican” to “toss-up,” boosting Turek’s prospects.
Hagle noted that with an open Senate seat and an open governor’s race, Iowa Democratic nominees understand the risk of appearing too far left. Association with Kamala Harris could prove problematic for their campaigns, he said.
Pattern Extends Beyond Iowa
The distancing strategy is not new. During a November 2025 visit to Tennessee for her 107 Days book tour, Harris did not explicitly endorse or mention state Representative Aftyn Behn, who was then running for the state’s 7th Congressional District. At an event where both appeared, Behn left before Harris arrived, citing a fundraiser she needed to attend.
Battleground Democrats Embrace Harris
Not all Democrats are running from the former vice president. Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia held a private “Women for Ossoff” call with Harris, calling it a delight to see her. Ossoff faces one of the most closely watched Senate battles, but Georgia has evolved into a perennial purple state that Democrats must retain to regain control of the upper chamber.
An Ossoff campaign spokesperson told the Washington Examiner that the senator is grateful for Harris’s help and support in his reelection campaign.
Democratic strategist Dallas Jones identified Georgia’s sizable black electorate as one of Harris’s remaining strengths within the Democratic coalition, explaining why she remains valuable in certain contests.
Harris has endorsed Senate Democratic candidates including Troy Jackson in Maine, Abdul el Sayed in Michigan, Roy Cooper in North Carolina, and James Talarico in Texas. It remains unclear whether she has endorsed former Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown‘s comeback bid against Senator Jon Husted. The Brown campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
With information from Washington Examiner
