Trump official Ric Grenell has said he may join the race for California governor if former Vice President Kamala Harris decides to run. And some California Republicans said they think he could have as much of a chance as any member of their party in the solid blue state.
“It’s gonna be pretty tough for any Republican, no matter what,” longtime Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa told NOTUS. “But I think Grenell probably brings a certain amount of panache with the moment if he’s gonna run for the Republicans.”
Grenell, who currently serves as President Donald Trump’s envoy for special missions, is a long shot for the 2026 gubernatorial race. While even Republican lawmakers would be the first to admit how hard it would be to challenge a Democratic candidate in California, they said a Trump-backed GOP candidate with relatively light baggage in elected office might give them a fighting chance.