Willie Brown Questions Kamala Harris’s Political Path in New Interview

In a recent episode of State of Gold, podcaster Jon Slavet sat down with Willie Brown — former San Francisco mayor, longtime California powerbroker, and one‐time romantic partner to Kamala Harris. Their conversation included some striking assessments about Harris’s future in politics, including doubts about whether she should aim for the governor’s mansion or instead lean into legal roles.

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Brown’s Take on the Governor’s Question

At age 91, Willie Brown remains sharp and deeply embedded in California’s political scene. When asked by Slavet whether Harris might run for governor of California, Brown offered caution. He suggested that the role might not be where she naturally excels, saying a race for governor would likely be tough for her to win.

Brown told Slavet that while Harris has shown strength in legal and judicial capacities, the executive demands of leading a state may not align with her skills. It was a subtle but clear signal: for Brown, Harris’s talents might be better suited elsewhere.

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What He Told Her Before the Vice Presidency

The interview also delved into advice Brown once gave Harris years ago. As Biden was finalizing picks for his running mate, Harris sought his counsel. Brown admitted that he had urged her not to accept the vice presidency offer, and instead recommended considering the role of attorney general.

He believed the attorney general post would fit her legal strengths better and provide a platform consistent with her talents, and he even suggested she could end up on the U.S. Supreme Court. Brown confesses that after giving that advice, Harris cut off contact with him — a decision he understood but interpreted as rejecting what he felt was a better path.

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Executive Role vs. Legal Identity

Brown emphasized a recurring theme: Harris shines in legal settings — in courts, in law, in roles that leverage her background studying, arguing, and interpreting law. But according to him, the governor’s office is a fundamentally executive role: overseeing many state systems, managing diverse administrations, handling crisis responses. Those demands, he suggested, present a different kind of challenge.

For Brown, “fit” matters. He argued that people seeking office should eventually aim for roles that suit them best, rather than forcing ill‑suited ambitions. By that measure, his perspective is that a judicial or legal path for Harris may make more sense than an executive one.

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Political Realities and Polling

Slavet’s conversation with Brown didn’t shy away from the public perspective. Slavet noted that Harris has been polling poorly for both governor of California and for another national run, should she decide to go that route again. Sources close to her, he said, indicate a feeling among allies that her image and standing nationally are not in a strong place right now.

Despite rumors of a possible run for California governor, Slavet observed that her backing — in terms of donor interest, media narratives, and public enthusiasm — seems to have waned. The political environment in California is highly competitive, and Brown named several potential rivals who could prove formidable if Harris enters the fray.

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Bigger Implications

The interview has sparked questions about Harris’s political strategy. Is she better served by seeking a judicial appointment, a legal‐centered role, or possibly stepping back from executive ambitions? Brown’s remarks suggest he believes she may need to reassess her options.

His view also reflects a broader tension in politics: translating legal or judicial expertise into executive leadership isn’t always straightforward. Skills in crafting legal arguments, upholding constitutional norms, and working in judicial contexts do not always map neatly onto the demands of political leadership, management of state bureaucracy, or campaign politics.

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The Personal and Political Mix

Beyond strategy, there is a personal element to the interview. Brown and Harris share a history — he was once a mentor and an important early ally. Suggesting she turn down a vice presidency pick, advising her toward attorney general roles — all indicate a level of intimacy and concern. But the fact that their relationship cooled when he gave advice she didn’t take underscores how personal ambitions, counsel, loyalty, and ambition can collide.

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What’s Next for Harris

With 2026 on the horizon, Harris faces a choice: go for the governorship in California, run again nationally, or seek another path altogether — perhaps legal or judicial. Brown’s interview places public pressure to decide, and the politics of California ensure that whichever path she picks, rivals and pundits will scrutinize closely.

Harris’s friends and supporters believe she still has options. But as Brown’s words suggest — whether Harris wants to run for governor or not, many will be watching to see if she ends up where her abilities, standing, and political realities align best.