Former Vice President Kamala Harris is set to step back into the national spotlight on Wednesday evening, delivering the keynote address at Emerge’s 20th anniversary gala. This will mark her first major public appearance since leaving office in January.
The topic, of course, won’t be about her future plans or a positive proposal about what Democrats can do to build a better future, however. It will instead just be complaining about President Trump. According to a source familiar with her planned remarks who spoke to The Hill, Harris intends to deliver to criticize Trump, who defeated her in the November election. She is expected to challenge Trump’s economic policies and his proposals to overhaul the federal government, portraying them as significant threats that demand renewed political activism.
In 2024, Harris was lambasted for her crazy ideas about the economy that resembled Venezuela more than the United States. At one point, the vice president endorsed the idea of putting price caps on food, a move that caused panic among grocery store owners.
In addition to her critique, Harris will recognize Emerge’s two decades of work recruiting and training Democratic women to run for political office. The organization played an instrumental role in her own career, with co-founder Andrea Dew Steele advising her during her successful 2003 campaign for San Francisco District Attorney.
This speech follows Harris’s recent surprise appearance at a leadership summit for Black women in California, where she firmly declared, “I’m not going anywhere.” Earlier this year, Harris also signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), signaling her intent to maintain a strong national presence beyond traditional political roles.
Speculation is growing around Harris’s next move. Although many party stalwarts wish she’d go away, she is widely considered a likely contender for California governor in 2026, with an official announcement expected by the end of the summer. Early polling indicates she would be a strong frontrunner.
