Kamala Harris' former mentor and ex-boyfriend Willie Brown threw cold water on her chances to become California governor. Currently, the frontrunner is Steve Hilton, polling at 19 percent, followed by former congresswoman Katie Porter, polling at 18 percent.
A new statewide poll conducted by Stack Data Strategy shows gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton @SteveHiltonx leading the race for California governor, confirming his status as the top contender to replace Governor Gavin Newsom. pic.twitter.com/2PdsCalEoD
— Chef Andrew Gruel (@ChefGruel) July 17, 2025
Hilton has always had a good understanding of how to solve the major issues in California, so he would be a major upgrade over Gov. Gavin Newsom; however, Porter, California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, among other Democrats are not going to be able to challenge Harris if she decides to run, so they will likely drop out and pave the path for her to finish top two during the primary election, which means she will advance to the general election against Steve Hilton or the leading GOP candidate.
Brown was asked about Harris potentially entering the gubernatorial race. Here's what he had to say:
“I do think people running for public office really ought to fit eventually where they are trying to land at. And I really do, hope, frankly, that [Harris] comes to that reality,” Brown said of Harris’ political future when asked by “State of Gold” podcast host Jon Slavet. “She may not want to run for governor of the state of California,” the 91-year-old Democrat continued. “That may not be where she should be going. I think it’s going to be difficult for her to win that job.”
NEW: Willie Brown on Kamala Harris:
— Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) July 23, 2025
"She may not want to run for Governor. I think it will be difficult for her to win that job."
The former San Francisco Mayor says in 2020 he told Harris not to run for VP...but ask Biden to name her as AG instead. After that, he says, they… pic.twitter.com/s0OoR43IbF
While the field is still going to grow, one Democrat that even some California Republicans would be willing to vote for, to avoid the likes of Harris or Porter, is real estate developer Rick Caruso. Here's what Brown had to say about Caruso:
“There’s just so many really talented people thinking about that job,” Brown said, singling out former Los Angeles mayoral candidate and businessman Rick Caruso as someone with “great executive potential.”
He added that Harris “needs to understand” that to successfully lead California, she would need to be running it like “a private-sector person” would operate a business. That is primarily why people from all parties have been encouraging Caruso to run for governor. But if he decides to run for mayor of Los Angeles again, Hilton is a great candidate because he understands how the legislature works and what he can realistically get done as governor.
In conclusion, Brown praised Harris, saying:
“She is bold enough, tough enough, and well-informed enough that if she would utilize that talent, she would not need a person like me giving her advice, period. She would be doing what needs to be done.”
Harris will reportedly announce her decision by the end of the summer, which has dried up donations for the other Democrat candidates as donors wait to see what the former vice president decides. As Democrats are waiting for her decision, the leading GOP candidates, Hilton and Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, have been traveling all over the state and talking to voters about what issues they want to see addressed.
PICNIC FOR VIETNAMESE VETERANS & FAMILIES, SAN JOSE
— steve hilton (@SteveHiltonx) July 21, 2025
For Hungarians and Vietnamese, communism isn’t just a theory. Our families lived through its cruelty. That’s why we will always fight for freedom! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/FG7Ph7PUwx
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