The 21st of July looms for Kamala Harris and the much smaller world of advisers left around her. It’s the day she’s set to lose the US Secret Service protection that former vice presidents are granted for six months — six months from the inauguration that she believed would be her own after Joe Biden gave her 107 days to win the 2024 election when he ended his reelection bid last July 21.

The former vice president will spend this summer figuring out her political future. If she seeks the governorship, she'll need to commit to the job 100% and explain to voters what's in it for them.