Kamala Harris Holds Secret Talks with Progressive and Anti-Israel Leaders Ahead of 2028 Democratic Primaries

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has initiated a series of confidential meetings and calls with progressive and anti-Israel leaders in the United States, including New York City’s socialist Mayor, Zohran Mamdani. This effort aims to rebrand her image and build support among young Democrats and Muslim voters ahead of the 2028 Democratic presidential primaries, following recent setbacks for pro-Israel Democratic incumbents in local primaries.

Harris’s outreach began after a wave of victories by socialist candidates in New York primaries, where established pro-Israel Democrats were ousted. A source close to the matter confirmed Harris personally contacted Mamdani, who previously opposed Joe Biden’s candidacy, congratulating him on his slate’s success. Mamdani acknowledged the communication in a SiriusXM interview, describing ongoing contact with Harris over recent months.

In addition to Mamdani, Harris met with Abbas Alawiya, co-founder of the "Uncommitted Movement," which led boycotts against the U.S. government for its support of Israel. Alawiya shared details of their discussions on social media, highlighting the recent deaths of community members in Israeli airstrikes and urging Harris and Democratic leaders to oppose U.S. tax dollars funding attacks on civilians. Harris also spoke with James Zogby, a longtime pro-Palestinian activist and Democratic National Committee member.

Harris’s attempts to court the progressive wing have intensified after the 2024 presidential election and recent local primaries. In July 2024, shortly after Biden withdrew from the race, Harris publicly criticized Israel for killing "too many" Gaza civilians and expressed solidarity with calls for a ceasefire. She also sought meetings with boycott movement leaders to discuss a possible arms embargo on Israel. However, she later tried to balance her stance by affirming Israel’s right to self-defense in a speech to Jewish voters.

Despite these efforts, Harris’s strategy has not yielded strong support among Muslim American voters, with polls showing she received only 20.3% of their votes in November 2024, many favoring Donald Trump or third-party candidates. Prominent Michigan Democrats, including Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and Dearborn’s mayor, withheld endorsements. The recent New York primaries demonstrated a leftward shift in the Democratic base on Israel, with socialist-backed candidates defeating pro-Israel incumbents.

Currently leading internal Democratic polls with 27.3% support, Harris faces competition from California Governor Gavin Newsom, Pete Buttigieg, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Though she has not officially declared her 2028 candidacy, Harris recently told Reverend Al Sharpton she is considering a run and will provide updates in due course.