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Discussing Politics
An interview with Senator Laphonza Butler, a Democrat from California, as she wraps up her last week in the Senate, reveals a Harris supporter accusing Biden of not keeping his word.
Written by Lisa Lerer
Laphonza Butler has only been a senator from California for a short time of around 15 months. However, she has been a strong supporter and friend of Vice President Kamala Harris for 15 years.
During the week, I had a conversation with Butler, who has been working closely with Harris for a long time. They first connected when Butler was a union leader in Los Angeles. Butler’s unique insight offers a perspective on why their party lost the presidential election and what steps can be taken to rebuild.
Harris has not spoken much about the reasons for her loss. According to Butler, part of the blame lies with President Biden for breaking a campaign promise by running for re-election. However, simply blaming Biden is not the solution. Democrats need to shift from talking to actively listening, according to her perspective.
Governor Gavin Newsom chose Butler to take over the U.S. Senate seat that became vacant after Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away in September 2023. Since Feinstein chose not to seek re-election, this week marks her final days in the Senate. Representative Adam Schiff will be inaugurated as California’s newest senator on Monday.
The interview was shortened and made clearer through editing.
LL is asking for the reason behind Harris’ loss.
The American citizens desired a shift in leadership and were looking for a candidate who they believed could bring about change. It seems that this desire for change may have been a key factor in their decision.
Do you think Biden should not have decided to
When President Biden first took office, he mentioned that he would be a transitional leader, which many people expected. It might have been better for him to stick to that plan. It’s undeniable that his presidency has been successful and will be remembered as one of the most impactful in my lifetime. However, when you set certain expectations with the public, it’s important to follow through on them.
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