NEW YORK — Kamala Harris has offered the clearest indication yet that she may run for president in 2028.
During the National Action Network convention on Friday, Harris responded to Rev. Al Sharpton’s inquiry about a potential 2028 run by saying, “Listen, I might, I might. I’m thinking about it,” leaving the audience with, “I’ll keep you posted,” before she exited the stage. Her 40-minute talk was met with cheers and a standing ovation.
Previously, Harris entertained the idea of running, but her latest remarks took on greater significance in front of an audience composed of Black lawmakers, influential figures, and voters, marking the initial major gathering for the potential 2028 Democratic candidates.
“I know what the job is and what it requires,” she informed Sharpton.
Harris was the sixth prospective 2028 candidate to participate in a fireside chat with Sharpton at the conference, acknowledging the importance of the event. Black voters form a substantial part of the Democratic primary base and will have a pivotal role in selecting the party’s next presidential nominee.
Harris received an enthusiastic response from the audience, surpassing that of other Democrats who spoke earlier, such as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).
The crowd in the packed ballroom repeatedly chanted, “Run again! Run again!” at one point.
Eventually, Sharpton humorously reminded the crowd, “This is a convention, not a revival,” as the cheers for Harris intensified.
Harris criticized President Donald Trump on various issues, including Iran, foreign policy, and voting rights, during her dialogue with Sharpton.
She also acknowledged the impact Trump and the GOP had on specific voters of color in 2024, noting a significant shift of Black and Latino men from the Democratic Party.
Harris emphasized that Democrats should not take support for granted due to historical ties.
“I think we need to be transactional voters,” she stated, garnering scattered cheers. “Here’s what I’m suggesting in addition: get yours. Vote and say, ‘I’m voting because I expect something out of this’…. I’m saying it’s okay to also give people permission to be transactional, and to say, if you will get my vote, this is what I expect. I expect to get something out of this.”
People close to Harris assert she is genuinely undecided and have encouraged her to maintain her campaign options.
Her statements at the convention are part of a series of high-profile appearances she plans as she seeks to reconnect with voters. Harris announced upcoming travels to South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Arkansas.
Harris is leading in several early polls of Democrats’ favored presidential candidates for 2028, likely supported by her recognition from past presidential runs and her four-year term as vice president under Joe Biden.
Harris’s early advantage in the unofficial presidential primary was apparent even before her Friday speech. Unlike previous days, attendees faced a security checkpoint at the ballroom entrance, similar to Secret Service protocols for former officeholders (Trump removed Harris’s USSS detail in 2025). The event space filled to capacity over an hour before Harris took the stage.
Harris’s interaction with Sharpton bore resemblance to a 2024 campaign event in several ways.
Beyoncé’s 2016 hit “Freedom,” which was central to Harris’s 2024 campaign, played over the loudspeaker as attendees entered. A video montage of Sharpton and Harris was shown on the main stage screens, an honor not extended to other 2028 presidential hopefuls.
“I just really want to hear her point of view of everything, about what’s happening now in the presidency, and maybe what she would have done if she was here instead of Trump,” said 27-year-old New Yorker Justina Pena.
Chris Cadelago contributed.
