Democrats running for Senate are doing everything they can to avoid former Vice President Kamala Harris — and one megadonor is saying the quiet part out loud.
“She is a huge liability,” Democrat megadonor John Morgan told the Hill. He warned candidates who actually want to win to stay far away from her.
Morgan’s blunt assessment reflects a growing concern within the Democratic Party about Harris’s lingering impact following her defeat in the 2024 presidential election. The megadonor, known for his significant financial contributions to Democratic causes and his willingness to speak candidly about party strategy, represents a faction of establishment Democrats increasingly worried about down-ballot effects heading into what many consider a make-or-break midterm cycle.
The warning comes as multiple Democrat candidates have publicly rejected Harris campaign appearances heading into the 2026 midterms, even after winning her endorsement.
This phenomenon represents a particularly awkward dynamic for the party, as candidates find themselves in the uncomfortable position of accepting endorsements while simultaneously distancing themselves from the endorser. Political observers note this creates a messaging challenge, as candidates must balance gratitude for party support with the electoral realities in their respective states and districts.
Iowa state Rep. Josh Turek told reporters this week he didn’t want Harris campaigning for him as he pursues a Senate seat. Iowa gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand, the state’s auditor, shared the same sentiment about Harris and former President Biden.
The Iowa rejections are particularly telling given the state’s political trajectory in recent election cycles. Once considered a swing state that President Barack Obama won twice, Iowa has trended increasingly Republican, making any association with nationally unpopular Democratic figures potentially fatal for statewide candidates trying to appeal to moderate and independent voters who have drifted away from the party.
Former Rep. Mary Peltola’s Senate campaign in Alaska voiced frustration after Harris’s PAC issued a fundraising email for the red-state Democrat earlier this month — a move Republicans immediately used to tie Harris to the candidate.
The Alaska incident highlights the complications that can arise even when candidates don’t actively seek association with controversial figures. In deeply red states where Democrats must run significantly ahead of their party’s national brand to have any chance of victory, unsolicited support from polarizing figures can undermine carefully crafted campaign strategies designed to emphasize local issues and personal biography over partisan affiliation.
“She is a huge liability. Stay far away from her if you want to win.” — Democrat megadonor John Morgan
Morgan pointed to the Alaska situation as proof: “Look what happened in Alaska,” he said, noting how Republicans weaponized Harris’s involvement against Peltola.
The rejection spans swing states too. Democrats in Michigan — where the Senate race is heating up — believe Harris could hurt their chances in what’s shaping up to be a competitive battle.
Michigan represents a critical test case for Democratic strategy in the Rust Belt, a region that has become the party’s most important battleground. The state’s unique coalition of urban progressives, suburban moderates, and working-class voters requires careful calibration of messaging and surrogate appearances. Democratic strategists in the state are acutely aware that what plays well in Detroit or Ann Arbor may alienate voters in swing counties that determine statewide outcomes.
Harris has been privately contacting progressive Democrats, pro-Palestinian activists, former aides, and other party figures ahead of a possible 2028 presidential run, according to earlier Breitbart News reporting.
These behind-the-scenes activities suggest Harris remains focused on maintaining her political viability and building support within key Democratic constituencies, even as 2026 candidates publicly keep their distance. The outreach to progressive activists and pro-Palestinian groups indicates a potential strategy to shore up support on the party’s left flank, which could prove significant in a crowded 2028 primary field.
There’s been ongoing talk of her attempting to take the White House again in 2028 after losing to President Donald Trump in 2024. A June poll showed Vice President JD Vance and Harris dominating within their own parties among potential 2028 candidates.
The polling data underscores the tension between Harris’s standing among the party’s primary electorate and her broader appeal in competitive general election races. This disconnect creates the current predicament where she remains influential enough to command attention and resources, yet potentially damaging enough that candidates in tough races want to maintain distance.
Rep. Mark Harris (R-NC) told Breitbart News Saturday in April that the prospect of Harris running for president in 2028 may certainly “help” Republicans before the midterms “because it reminds the people of what they rejected in 2024.”
The Republican congressman’s observation captures the strategic calculation on the other side of the aisle, where GOP operatives are eager to keep Harris in the public conversation as a way to energize their base and frame Democratic candidates as tied to an unpopular national figure.
Translation: Democrats know Harris is toxic — and they’re running from her as fast as they can.
