"I might. I am thinking about it," Harris told Rev Al Sharpton after he asked directly whether she was going to run for president in 2028.
Harris' comments came during the National Action Network's annual convention, where more than a half-dozen potential candidates appeared this week.
The Democrats' next presidential primary season will not begin in earnest until after November's midterm elections but this week's conference showcased a collection of Democrats already jockeying for position in what promises to be a crowded competition.
For now, at least, there is no clear early favourite.
But there did appear to be a favourite at Sharpton's conference.
Harris, the Democrats' presidential nominee in 2024, earned the only standing ovation and the largest crowd of any other 2028 prospect this week.
Some in the audience interrupted her remarks with chants of "Run again!".
Sharpton noted that Harris earned more votes in her losing 2024 campaign than even former Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
"Whatever she decides to do, she made a point in history," Sharpton said.
Harris, who served as vice president under president Joe Biden, lost her 2024 presidential bid to President Donald Trump, who won both the popular vote and the Electoral College.
Harris had previously served as a US senator and as attorney general of California, among other offices.
Harris made an unsuccessful run to be the Democratic Party's presidential nominee in 2020.
Harris has raised the possibility of another presidential bid before in the 15 months since she left office.
She also recently launched a political action committee and began to travel across the United States to support Democrats, especially across the south.
Still, some in the party have shifted their focus to a new generation of Democratic leaders given Harris' struggle in the last presidential contest when she was defeated by Trump.
The convention line-up this week featured Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro, former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, Illinois governor JB Pritzker, Maryland governor Wes Moore, Kentucky governor Andy Beshear, representative Ro Khanna of California and Arizona senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego.
Buttigieg, speaking shortly after Harris left the stage, received soft applause from a room that was about half-empty.
Some cheered when he mentioned supporting federal workers and minority businesses but many attendees had streamed out of the packed auditorium after Harris' speech in a bid to grab a selfie with the former vice president.
Buttigieg, like many other 2028 prospects this week, laughed off a question about whether he would seek the presidency again.
Harris was more explicit.
Three times she repeated, "I'm thinking about it" when Sharpton asked her about a 2028 White House run.
"I served for four years being a heartbeat away from the presidency of the United States. I spent countless hours in my West Wing office footsteps away from the Oval Office. I spent countless hours in the Oval Office and the situation room. I know what the job is, and I know what it requires," Harris said.
She continued: "I am thinking about it in the context of who and where and how can the best job be done for the American people. That's how I'm thinking about it. I'll keep you posted."
with Reuters
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