Former Vice President Kamala Harris has privately reached out to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other prominent progressive figures in recent months, according to a report by Axios, as she weighs a possible 2028 presidential campaign and seeks to strengthen ties with constituencies that were critical of her during the 2024 presidential election.
The outlet reported that Harris called Mamdani last week to discuss the Democratic Party's future and arrange a longer conversation. The call came two days after candidates backed by Mamdani won three New York City congressional primaries. Harris has also reportedly exchanged text messages with the mayor in recent months.
According to Axios, Harris has held private meetings with progressive leaders, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and has spent the past year reconnecting with pro-Palestinian activists, a group that became increasingly critical of the Biden administration's handling of the war in Gaza.
Among those Harris reportedly met with was Abbas Alawieh, a co-founder of the Uncommitted Movement and now a Democratic candidate for the Michigan state Senate. Alawieh told Axios that Harris requested the meeting after months of private conversations.
He said he reiterated that "American tax dollars should never be used to target civilians or destroy entire communities" and shared that members of his community had recently lost relatives in Israeli airstrikes supported by the United States.
Axios also reported that Harris recently spoke with longtime Democratic National Committee member James Zogby and has privately consulted former aides and other Democrats on issues including China, artificial intelligence and Venezuela.
The reported outreach comes as Harris continues to explore a possible return to presidential politics. She has acknowledged publicly that she is considering a 2028 campaign, telling attendees at the National Action Network conference in April, "I might. I'm thinking about it."
Her decision earlier this year not to run for governor of California fueled speculation that she is preserving the option of another White House bid. Harris also remains among the leading contenders in early Democratic primary polling, although a crowded field is expected.
Questions about her standing within the party, however, remain. A recent Los Angeles Times report found that several major donors who backed Harris in 2024 are hesitant to support another campaign, reflecting broader concerns among some Democratic strategists about her ability to defeat a Republican nominee after losing to President Donald Trump.
Support among Democratic voters remains comparatively strong, particularly among Black voters and in early primary states, while Harris has continued a national speaking tour focused on the party's direction ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
