An article summarized by Axios:

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has been quietly meeting with prominent progressive leaders and activists, fueling speculation that she is laying the groundwork for a potential 2028 presidential campaign. Last week, Harris privately called Zohran Mamdani to discuss the future of the Democratic Party after his endorsed candidates performed well in New York congressional races. She has also met with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and held discussions with other Democrats on issues including artificial intelligence, China, and Venezuela.

Harris has also been working to rebuild relationships with pro-Palestinian activists, a group that was often critical of the Biden-Harris administration's approach to the war in Gaza. She recently met with Abbas Alawieh, a co-founder of the Uncommitted Movement, and spoke with longtime Democratic activist James Zogby. According to Alawieh, Harris initiated months of private conversations during which he urged her to oppose the use of U.S. taxpayer dollars to target civilians in conflict zones. In her 2025 memoir, Harris also wrote that she privately pushed President Joe Biden to express greater empathy for Palestinian civilians during the Gaza war.

Despite these outreach efforts, Harris still faces skepticism from many progressives and Arab American voters who remain dissatisfied with her 2024 campaign and her association with the Biden administration's Israel policy. While she remains one of the leading early contenders for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, her political positioning has drawn criticism from both the party's left wing and moderates, who question her ideological consistency and general election strength. Even so, Harris continues to maintain strong support in many Democratic strongholds, particularly across the South, where she remains a popular figure among the party's base.

For the article: https://www.axios.com/2026/07/01/harris-mamdani-progressives-2028