Shakir on Harris having a political future: "I doubt it"
Progressive strategist Faiz Shakir on Sunday questioned whether former Vice President Harris has a political future.
“I doubt it. ... People are looking for people with conviction and integrity in time of corruption, economic corruption, political corruption,” Shakir said on ABC's This Week. “Who’s going to have the honesty and integrity to stand up to power?”
In her book, "107 Days," Harris offers a glimpse into her 2024 presidential run. The former vice president criticized numerous Democrats, including former President Biden and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D). Harris also stated that the condensed time frame made it challenging to effectively convey her message to Americans nationwide.
Shakir, though, feels that Harris did not “own” the decisions she made during the campaign. Shakir, who unsuccessfully ran for Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair earlier this year, has long pushed the party to fight harder for the working class and embrace economic populism.
“Some of the decisions she's making, she said, ‘I wasn't in control. It wasn't my fault. It was somebody else,’” added Shakir, a top adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). “I'm like, ‘Who? Then who was in control?’”
Harris’s book will be released on Tuesday. The former vice president elected not to run in the 2026 California gubernatorial race, saying in July that she plans on “getting back out and listening to the American people.”
That decision leaves the door open for Harris to enter the 2028 Democratic presidential primary. According to Race to the WH, she is second in national polling averages -- behind California Gov. Gavin Newsom -- for the nomination, with 21.2 percent support.
If she seeks the presidency, Shakir hopes Harris will run her campaign the way she sees fit.
“You don't listen to consultants and the donor class,” he said. “If you want to step into the political arena, you stand on your own two feet, you make tough decisions, and you own them, and you have a vision and a strategy.”