Scoop: Harris reaches out to Mamdani, pro-Palestinian activists in run-up to 2028

Harris, the former vice president widely expected to run for president in twenty twenty-eight, has been privately reaching out to progressive Democrats and pro-Palestinian activists, according to Axios. Last week she called New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to discuss the party's future. She's also been meeting with Abbas Alawieh, a co-founder of the Uncommitted Movement that mobilized Gaza-focused voters during the twenty twenty-four primary, and with James Zogby, a longtime Democratic National Committee member and Palestinian rights advocate. The outreach appears aimed at repairing Harris's relationships with the left wing of the party. During her vice presidency, Harris privately advocated for greater empathy toward Palestinians in Gaza—a position she detailed in her twenty twenty-five book, where she said she "pleaded" with President Biden to show more compassion. But her twenty twenty-four campaign maintained Biden's reflexively pro-Israel stance, disappointing many progressive and Arab American voters. Some remain skeptical: Palestinian American strategist Rania Batrice told Axios, "Why should we trust her now?" and said skepticism is "warranted" without major concessions on the issue.

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