When we wrote to you last month about our priorities we described the 2026 race for governor as “wide open,” but since then we’ve heard that Kamala Harris may run and that if she does, some candidates would make way for her. We hope the rumors aren’t true.
We prefer elected officials who deliver for students, residents and taxpayers. Examples include Gina Raimondo when she served as governor of Rhode Island and Mitt Romney when he served as governor of Massachusetts, neither of whom shied away from taking on special interests to serve the public interest even when doing so jeopardized their political prospects. That doesn’t describe Harris, who, like the current governor, has long demonstrated that she is primarily adept at loudly signaling virtue to the common interest while quietly doing the bidding of special interests. Political donors have an obligation to the students, residents and taxpayers who would be negatively affected by continued poor governance, so if Harris asks for your support, we hope you decline. California’s next governor must emerge from an intense competition, not a coronation.
In news regarding our two other priorities, last week we hosted a gathering of political philanthropies operating in Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco and the East Bay to share best practices and outline objectives. An impressive and driven bunch, nothing gives us greater hope than their agendas. On the other hand, we have little hope about the state budget, which, thanks to a cover-up of excessive spending, is in poor health for this point in the economic cycle. We will know more in January when the governor presents his proposed budget for the next fiscal year.
