Former Vice President Kamala Harris appears to be making a deliberate move toward the Democratic Party’s left flank as she looks to keep herself in the conversation for 2028, according to a new report. Axios reported that Harris recently called New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a figure closely associated with the party’s far-left wing. […]

Former Vice President Kamala Harris appears to be making a deliberate move toward the Democratic Party’s left flank as she looks to keep herself in the conversation for 2028, according to a new report.

Axios reported that Harris recently called New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a figure closely associated with the party’s far-left wing. The two reportedly spoke last week about the future of the Democratic Party and planned to continue the conversation in more detail later.

The call comes at a moment when progressive Democrats have been gaining ground in key races. Far-left candidates recently won congressional primaries in New York City and Colorado, giving the party’s left wing fresh evidence that its influence is growing.

Harris has also been meeting privately with pro-Palestinian activists, according to Axios. Among them are Abbas Alawieh, a co-founder of the Uncommitted Movement, which pushed back against former President Joe Biden’s position on Israel during the 2024 campaign, and longtime Palestinian activist James Zogby.

In 2024, Harris tried to walk a careful line on the Israel-Gaza war. She publicly supported Israel while also signaling sympathy for Palestinians. Now, her outreach to activists who were highly critical of the Biden administration suggests she may be trying to repair relationships with a part of the Democratic base that viewed the administration with deep suspicion.

Alawieh told Axios that Harris had requested the meeting. He said he used the conversation to repeat his position that American tax dollars should not be used to target civilians or destroy communities.

Harris has also written about the issue herself. In her memoir, she said she “pleaded” with Biden to show more public support for Palestinians in Gaza.

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Still, not everyone on the left is ready to accept the shift as genuine.

“Why should we trust her now?” Palestinian-American progressive strategist Rania Batrice said, according to Axios. “If this change is real, she has an opportunity to prove it.”

“Until then, skepticism isn’t just understandable, it’s warranted,” she added.

Others see Harris’ outreach less as a matter of conviction and more as political positioning ahead of the next presidential race.

Republican consultant Mike Madrid told the New York Post that Harris appears to be preparing for a 2028 Democratic primary in which support for Palestinian rights is likely to matter more than it did in previous cycles.

“This is about positioning for the 2028 primary where no candidate knows where the lane for support for Palestinian rights is going to be, but they know there’s going to be one,” Madrid said.

He added that the move carries political risk but reflects a broader shift taking place inside both parties. In his view, Harris’ posture shows how quickly Democratic politics around Israel and Palestine have changed.

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The question is whether Democratic primary voters will see Harris as a credible messenger.

In a National Review op-ed, Jim Geraghty wrote that he remains skeptical the Democratic Party would nominate Harris again after her previous run. Still, he noted that the primary calendar could work in her favor.

Geraghty also questioned whether Harris even wants to run as a more moderate figure in 2028. Her recent outreach suggests she may be looking for a different lane, or at least trying to avoid being boxed out by the party’s progressive wing.

That could be difficult. If progressive voters are already aligned with figures such as Mamdani or Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Harris may have trouble convincing them that she is more than a late convert to their causes.

For now, though, Harris appears to be testing the waters. Her calls and private meetings show she is paying attention to where energy in the Democratic Party is moving. Whether that turns into a serious 2028 campaign or simply an effort to remain politically relevant remains to be seen.

The Western Journal