Former Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly has reached out to progressive and socialist Democrats in an attempt to build relationships before a 2028 presidential run.
Harris has been quietly courting influential figures on the Democratic Party's left flank, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and pro-Palestinian activists as she lays the groundwork for a possible White House bid, Axios reported Wednesday.
The outlet reported Harris called Mamdani last week to discuss the party's future after candidates he backed scored victories in New York City congressional primaries.
The former vice president also has held private meetings with activists connected to the "Uncommitted Movement," which emerged in opposition to President Joe Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war.
The outreach comes as Harris seeks to shore up support from the party's progressive base after many on the left criticized her 2024 campaign for remaining too closely aligned with Biden's Middle East policies.
Axios reported Harris also recently met with Abbas Alawieh, a Michigan Democrat and co-founder of the Uncommitted Movement, and spoke with longtime Democratic National Committee member James Zogby, a prominent advocate for Palestinian rights.
Harris also has consulted former aides and Democrat figures on issues ranging from China and artificial intelligence to Venezuela, according to the report.
The renewed outreach follows Harris' decision not to run for California governor — a move widely viewed as preserving the option of another presidential campaign.
Recent polls of the 2028 Democrat presidential primary have shown Harris leading the prospective field by double-digit percentage points, The New York Times reported.
An April Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll found she received support from 50% of Democrat voters, well ahead of other potential contenders.
Still, Harris faces skepticism from many Democrat donors following her 2024 loss to President Donald Trump.
The Los Angeles Times reported in May that several major contributors to the largest pro-Harris super PAC have indicated they would support another candidate or remain undecided, reflecting concerns about her ability to win a general election.
One Democrat fundraiser told the newspaper there is "an enormous appetite for new blood," while others said the party is focused on finding the strongest nominee capable of defeating Republicans in 2028.
Even so, Harris remains one of the Democratic Party's most recognizable figures, particularly among Black voters and in Southern primary states, where she continues drawing enthusiastic crowds.