Harris has won five statewide races — in 2010 and 2014 for attorney general, in 2016 for U.S. senator and as vice president on Biden’s ticket in 2020 and 2024. She trounced Trump, 58% to 38%, in this year’s election.

For months US Vice President Kamala Harris was laser-focused on one potentially career-defining, history-making goal -- becoming the first woman entrusted with the keys to the White House.Sixteen presidents have been governors before entering the White House,

Mr Newsom, who has been California’s governor since 2019, has been identified as a potential Harris rival in four years, along with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Another possible option for Ms Harris would be to continue in politics without necessarily holding office.