Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) on Friday touted former Vice President Harris’s tenacity while challenging President Trump in last year’s election, while suggesting she was “ill served” by her campaign.
Clyburn, in an appearance on CNN’s “NewsCentral,” was asked for his prediction of Harris’s political future by host Kate Boulduan. The Palmetto State lawmaker seemingly sidestepped the question.
“I am not going to advise her as to what she should do or should not do. I will say this, I think that she is a tremendous talent. I think she ran a great campaign,” Clyburn told CNN’s Kate Bolduan. “I think she was ill served in that campaign by people who should have listened to some of us who saw and felt things.”
“She was a great candidate, and I think she will make a great candidate in the future, whatever she decides to run for,” he continued. “But I’m not going to give any advice as to whether or not she should or should not.”
His comments come as Harris is reportedly eyeing a gubernatorial bid in her home state of California. Early polling for the 2026 race has shown the former senator as a widely favored candidate, though she has yet to announce a bid.
Harris has previously dodged inquiries on whether she would join the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who is term limited. But, earlier this month she told the crowd at a leadership summit focused on Black women that “I’m not going anywhere.”
During the same event, she made a nod to criticism President Trump has received since returning to the Oval Office. Without calling out Trump by name, she said, “There were many things that we knew would happen… many things. I’m not here to say, ‘I told you so.'”
Clyburn was one of seemingly few Democrats that encouraged former President Biden to stay in the race following his disastrous performance at a debate against Trump last summer. Biden ultimately withdrew and endorsed Harris.
At the time, the South Carolina Democrat said he would support a “mini-primary” if the former president exited the race, instead of the party automatically handing a nomination to Harris.
Democrats have struggled with their messaging following Trump’s election victory and significant losses across the board last November. The party’s approval rating has also taken a hit, remaining at a record low point, according to recent polls.