Grenell would consider run for California governor if Harris enters race

Richard Grenell, President Trump’s “special missions” envoy and interim executive director of the Kennedy Center, left the door open to a run for California governor if former Vice President Kamala Harris decides to run for the job.

“If Kamala Harris runs for governor — I believe that she has such baggage and hundreds of millions of dollars in educating the voters of how terrible she is — that it's a new day in California, and that the Republican actually has a shot,” Grenell told reporters Friday. “And I wouldn't say no.”

Grenell, who served during Trump’s first term in office in several different roles, including acting director of national intelligence, has previously eyed running for California governor before.

He expressed interest in taking on Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in 2021 in a recall election but later withdrew his name right before the deadline.

Newsom is term-limited in 2026 and can’t run again, paving the way for a potentially crowded field of candidates on either side.

Polling released Thursday from Emerson College Polling, Insider California Politics and The Hill found that Harris would be the front-runner in a Democratic primary, receiving 57 percent support. Former Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), who placed second with the most support, received 9 percent.

Harris was asked last week about a potential run for the governor’s mansion. She noted she had only been back in the state for several weeks but also notably did not close the door on speculation either.

“I have been home for two weeks and three days. My plans are to be in touch with my community, to be in touch with the leaders and figure out what I can do to support them,” she said in the state, where she had been surveying damage caused by wildfires.

While Trump clearly made inroads with many demographics and battleground states in the November election, winning a gubernatorial race in California will still be a tough climb for Republicans. The last election a Republican won the seat was in 2006 when former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger won reelection.