A former aide in the Biden administration expressed skepticism Tuesday about former Vice President Kamala Harris’s political future, arguing that voters are unlikely to give her another opportunity to seek the White House if she decides to launch a 2028 presidential campaign.
Speaking on Fox News’s America Reports, Michael LaRosa, who previously served as press secretary to former first lady Jill Biden, told host Gillian Turner that he does not believe Harris is well-positioned to secure the presidency after her previous national campaigns.
“I don’t think they’re going to give Kamala Harris a third at-bat,” LaRosa said during the interview.
The discussion followed a New York Magazine article that identified Harris as the current front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
The magazine cited Democratic strategist Minyon Moore, who argued Harris has spent time listening to voters and working to better understand the issues affecting Americans.
“She’s been listening to the American people and really trying to figure out what’s impacting them and how she can be of service to them,” Moore told the publication.
LaRosa rejected that assessment, arguing that Harris already has decades of political experience and should no longer be in a position where she is simply listening to voters. Instead, he said, she should be demonstrating leadership.
According to LaRosa, Democratic voters are looking for someone new to carry the party forward rather than returning to a familiar national figure.
“She follows. She doesn’t take risks. She calculates. She doesn’t answer questions, she equivocates,” LaRosa said.
He argued those qualities have prevented Harris from establishing a stronger connection with voters and suggested they would continue to be obstacles if she pursues another presidential campaign.
“She’s got to get over that if she wants to make a connection with people,” LaRosa added, reiterating that he does not believe she will receive what he described as a third opportunity to compete for the presidency.
Turner later asked LaRosa which Democrats he believes better fit the qualities he is looking for in a future presidential nominee.
LaRosa responded that he wants a candidate capable of leading the country and emphasized competence as his top priority.
“I want somebody who can run the country. I want somebody who is competent,” he said.
Among the Democrats he mentioned were former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
“I love Rahm Emanuel, Gavin Newsom. I like Pete Buttigieg,” LaRosa said.
While mentioning Newsom as one of his preferred options, LaRosa acknowledged that the California governor has not committed to entering the 2028 presidential race.
Earlier this year, Newsom said during an appearance on CBS News’s Face the Nation that any decision about seeking the presidency would need to be made together with his family.
LaRosa, who now works as a communications strategist, said his list of potential candidates extends beyond the three names he highlighted during the interview. However, he emphasized that the Democratic Party should nominate someone willing to lead rather than simply react to political trends or public opinion.
According to the report, Harris’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill regarding LaRosa’s criticism and his assessment of her potential 2028 presidential prospects.
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