Fox News contributor Kayleigh McEnany is now reportedly forecasting that two high-profile Democrats will soon try to follow President Donald Trump’s playbook by jumping early into the next presidential race, a move she suggested would underscore Trump’s lasting influence over American politics.
In a promotional video shared by Fox News and posted to X with the caption, “We asked our talent to share their predictions for 2026!,” McEnany wasted no time making waves. The former Trump White House press secretary said she believes Democrats are preparing to mimic Trump’s unconventional approach by declaring their intentions well ahead of the traditional timeline.
“Here’s my prediction,” McEnany said. “There will be a Democrat who tries to emulate and copy the Trump playbook, meaning they will declare their candidacy for the presidency before the end of next year.” McEnany said she believes that Democrat will be Gavin Newsom, adding that another familiar name could follow soon after. “I don’t want to scare everyone,” she said, “but Kamala Harris will declare shortly after in 2027. We’ll see!”
Both Newsom and Kamala Harris hail from California and share a long, often tense political history. While they have worked in the same political circles for years, observers have frequently described the relationship as competitive, with moments of cooperation mixed with clear rivalry.
That dynamic was on display during Newsom’s appearance last August on Pod Save America, shortly after Harris replaced President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket. Asked about the sudden switch, Newsom offered a sarcastic response, joking that the process had been “very open” and “very inclusive,” before adding, “That’s what I’ve been told to say!”
Harris, for her part, took a pointed jab at Newsom in her campaign memoir, “107 Days.” She recounted calling him to lock down his support after Biden exited the race, only to receive a brief text in response: “Hiking. Will call back.” Harris dryly added, “(He never did).”
Despite the sniping, Newsom has long been viewed as quietly positioning himself for a national run. Harris, meanwhile, has publicly remained noncommittal, though recent reporting suggests she may be inching closer to another bid.
Earlier this month, Axios reported that Harris was “stepping toward” a potential run, citing a series of moves that caught the attention of Democratic insiders. Journalist Alex Thompson noted that after keeping a low profile earlier in the year, Harris embarked on a book tour focused on the 2024 election, expanded that tour, appeared before the Democratic National Committee, and benefited from favorable comments by DNC Chair Ken Martin.
McEnany’s prediction frames those developments through a Republican lens: Democrats, she suggested, are once again reacting to Trump rather than setting their own course. By declaring early and dominating media attention, Trump rewrote the modern campaign playbook. McEnany’s message was clear — even years later, Democrats may feel compelled to copy the strategy that reshaped presidential politics and carried Trump to the White House.
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