Kamala Harris announces she will not run for governor of California

Decision leaves race wide open, with candidates including Xavier Becerra, Antonio Villaraigosa and Katie Porter

Kamala Harris, the former vice-president and 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, announced on Wednesday that she will not run for governor of California - a highly anticipated decision that leaves the contest to lead the country's largest blue state wide open.

For now, my leadership - and public service - will not be in elected office," Harris said in a statement, ending months of speculation about her political future after losing the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump.