(DCNF)—Some California House Democrats are less than enthused by former vice president Kamala Harris’s widely speculated potential bid for governor, with one claiming her “baggage” would only excite the Golden State’s Republicans during the 2026 midterms.
Harris, who is reportedly deciding between a race for California’s governor’s mansion in 2026 and another presidential bid in 2028, would likely be unable to shake prior decisions Democrats are reluctant to face, such as Joe Biden’s decision to run for reelection in 2024 and her rise to become the party’s presidential nominee without a primary after Biden’s withdrawal. Even in the deep blue state, Harris’ critics worry that her fellow party members not being too keen on her possible attempted comeback could weaken Democrats’ chances of winning in California’s several swing congressional seats, CNN reported.
“There’s no groundswell for her candidacy. In fact, I think it would only fire up Republicans and hurt our ability to win the four to five seats that we need to win to win the House and hold on to three seats that we just flipped in 2024,” one California House Democrat, who requested anonymity to speak freely, told the outlet. “She comes in with baggage.”
Some Democrats in competitive districts, such as first-term California Reps. Dave Min and George Whitesides, were hesitant to comment on the gubernatorial race. When asked how his reelection prospects would change if Harris were to run for the governor’s mansion, Min told the outlet he had no comment at all.
“I welcome her to the race. I’m just really focused on my own race, but if that’s what she feels calls to do, that’s her prerogative,” Whitesides told the paper.
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the 2026 races in both Min and Whitesides’ Southern California seats as “Lean Democrat.”
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who according to Hunter Biden did not want Harris to be the presidential nominee following his father’s departure from the 2024 race, told CNN, “I want her to do whatever she wants to do.” Pelosi continues to represent most of San Francisco in Congress.
The former vice president has reportedly reached out to former California governors for their opinion on if she could do the job, but some did not agree to speak with her, according to CNN.
California Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who has represented his Los Angeles district for nine years, implied that running for governor was Harris’ backup plan after losing the 2024 election to President Donald Trump.
“Once you’re the vice president of the United States, there’s only one place to go. It’s president,” Gomez told CNN. “For me, if I was vice president and all of a sudden I lose, it would be a fallback to me. I hate to put it so bluntly.”
California Rep. Mike Levin, who represents areas of Orange County and San Diego County, was more encouraging towards Harris, claiming her knowledge of the state and electorate would make her a “formidable candidate.” Cook rates the 2026 race in Levin’s seat as “Likely Democrat.”
California Rep. Ro Khanna — who has represented parts of California’s Silicon Valley since 2016 — supports a gubernatorial bid from Harris.
“As someone who served as district attorney, attorney general and senator from California, she would have the experience, leadership and understanding of the state legislature to tackle two of the biggest problems in the state: the lack of affordable housing and a sense of a lack of public safety,” Khanna told CNN.
As Harris continues to bide her time the California governor’s race is shaping up.
Already declared Democratic candidates in the race include former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former California Attorney General and Biden-era Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, former State Controller Betty Yee, Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter, entrepreneur Stephen J. Cloobeck, former State Senate President pro tempore Toni Atkins and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
Republicans in the running include Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, former Fox News host Steve Hilton, former judge Jimmy Parker, former businessman Leo Zacky and business consultant Sharifah Hardie, among others.
Harris’ office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.