Los Angeles, July 2025 — Vice President Kamala Harris is once again at the center of speculation over her political future, following striking comments made by her longtime political mentor — and former romantic partner — Willie Brown, the ex-mayor of San Francisco.
Brown, now 91, remains an influential voice in California Democratic politics despite having left public office more than two decades ago. In a recent interview with podcaster Jon Slavet, the former mayor offered a blunt assessment of Harris’s career trajectory, suggesting that her next move might not include a run for governor — and perhaps should not.
Brown’s Surprising Admission
In a clip from the interview that has circulated widely, Brown did not mince words about Harris’s potential future in California politics.
“She may not want to run for governor of the state of California. That may not be where she should be going,” Brown told Slavet. “I think it’s going to be difficult for her to win that job.”
For Harris — who has served as a district attorney, attorney general of California, U.S. senator, and vice president — the comments land as both a personal and political jolt. Coming from someone who has been both a mentor and, decades ago, a romantic partner, Brown’s remarks carry more weight than the average pundit’s speculation.
A Mentor’s Perspective
Slavet, recounting his discussion with Brown during an appearance on Los Angeles anchor Elex Michaelson’s program, described the elder statesman as still sharp and candid at his advanced age.
“First of all, kudos to Willie — age 91, still going strong, still sharp. I mean, I think that’s amazing,” Slavet said. “He, in effect, said he doesn’t think governor is a fit for her.”
According to Slavet, Brown praised Harris’s background in the legal world but expressed doubts about her effectiveness as an executive leader.
“He talked about her strengths in the legal world, but not as an executive, which to me was pretty stunning because this is a guy who knows her very well,” Slavet noted. “He’s a legend in Democratic politics, right? He’s been a mentor to Kamala. And he actually cares about the future of California authentically, and he in effect said she should try something different.”
The Attorney General “What-If”
One of the more intriguing revelations from Brown was his claim that he had advised Harris against accepting the vice presidency when Joe Biden offered her the slot on his 2020 ticket.
According to Slavet, Brown chuckled as he recounted the moment. “He said, ‘I got in trouble for this when I said it.’ But what he told me is that when she was one of the final five and Biden was reviewing the final candidates, he recommended to her that she ask Biden to nominate her as attorney general instead.”
The reasoning, Brown reportedly explained, was simple: Harris’s skills as a prosecutor and legal strategist would shine in the role of the nation’s top law enforcement officer, while the vice presidency — a position often defined by its lack of clear responsibilities — risked diluting her political brand.
“She’s better in the legal world than as an executive,” Brown believed, according to Slavet.
A Complicated Relationship
Brown’s commentary is particularly striking given his personal history with Harris. The two were romantically linked in the mid-1990s, when Brown was speaker of the California State Assembly and Harris was beginning her legal career. While critics have long suggested that Harris benefited politically from the connection, she has consistently pushed back against attempts to reduce her career to that relationship.
Still, Brown has remained a fixture in discussions of Harris’s political journey — sometimes as a defender, other times as a critic. His latest remarks fall somewhere in between, acknowledging her talents but questioning her long-term political strategy.
Harris’s Political Dilemmas
Harris faces a unique set of challenges as she looks ahead. Her tenure as vice president has been marked by both historic firsts — as the first woman and the first person of both Black and South Asian descent to hold the office — and persistent criticisms.
Polling throughout Biden’s presidency often showed Harris with approval ratings lower than the president’s, a vulnerability that has dogged her since entering national office. Critics point to uneven messaging, high-profile missteps, and a perception that she has struggled to define her role within the administration.
Those weaknesses, Brown seemed to suggest, would make a run for California governor a risky move. Despite being Harris’s home state, California’s politics are notoriously complex, with fierce intra-party rivalries and an electorate that can be both deeply liberal and sharply pragmatic.
“She’d be walking into a hornet’s nest,” one California political strategist, who requested anonymity, said when asked about Brown’s comments. “There are already ambitious Democrats lining up for 2026 and beyond. Running for governor is not the safe bet some people think it is.”
Looking Beyond Sacramento
If Brown is correct that Harris should not pursue the governorship, the question becomes: what next?
Some observers believe Harris could still seek a return to the Senate, though that would require waiting for an opening in one of California’s seats. Others speculate she may angle for a Cabinet position in a future Democratic administration, particularly in the Justice Department, where her legal background would be most relevant.
There is also the possibility that Harris could position herself for another presidential run. While her 2020 campaign fizzled early, some allies believe her national profile as vice president gives her a stronger foundation should she try again in the future. Brown’s comments, however, cast doubt on whether such a move would play to her strengths.
Brown’s Legacy and Harris’s Future
At 91, Willie Brown has nothing to lose by speaking bluntly. Known for decades as a kingmaker in California politics, his reputation for savvy maneuvering remains intact. Whether his latest advice proves prescient or not, it underscores the uncertainty surrounding Harris’s political future.
For Harris, the stakes are high. After serving as vice president — one of the pinnacles of American politics — any step down could be seen as a setback. Yet Brown’s words serve as a reminder that ambition must be balanced with strategy, and that even a resume as trailblazing as hers does not guarantee success in every arena.
Conclusion
Kamala Harris stands at a crossroads. Her vice presidency cemented her place in history, but the path forward is far less clear. Should she heed her mentor’s advice and return to her legal roots? Or should she defy the doubts and pursue executive leadership in California or beyond?
What is certain is that her next move will be closely watched — not just by voters and pundits, but by her former mentor, who still seems invested in shaping the trajectory of a woman he once guided into the political spotlight.
As Brown himself put it: “She may not want to run for governor. That may not be where she should be going.”