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Breaking Promises: A Harris Ally Discusses Politics, Advertisement, and Newsletters

In Citizen
January 18, 2025

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Discussion on Politics

A supporter of Kamala Harris claims that Joe Biden did not keep a promise. This is from an interview with Senator Laphonza Butler, a member of the Democratic party from California, in her last week serving in the Senate.

Written by Lisa Lerer

Laphonza Butler has been a senator from California for approximately 15 months, yet she has been a trusted supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris for 15 years.

During the week, I had a conversation with Butler, who has been in a long-standing partnership with Harris since they first met while Butler was working as a union leader in Los Angeles. This partnership provides Butler with a unique viewpoint on why their political party lost the presidential election and ways in which they can work towards rebuilding it.

Harris has not spoken much about the reasons for her loss in public. According to Butler, part of the blame lies with President Biden, who she feels went back on his promise by running for re-election. However, simply blaming Biden is not sufficient. Democrats need to move beyond talking and actually listen to others. Truly listen.

Governor Gavin Newsom selected Butler to take over the U.S. Senate position 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. On Monday, Representative Adam Schiff will officially become California’s newest senator.

This interview was condensed and made clearer for easier understanding.

LL: What is your opinion on why Harris did not win?

LB: The people in America desired a shift in leadership. They were looking for a candidate who they believed embodied change. I believe that may be the reason behind it all.

Was it a mistake for Biden to run for

At first, President Biden mentioned that he would be a temporary leader, which was what people were anticipating. Therefore, it might have been more beneficial for him to stick with that plan. Despite this, we cannot overlook the achievements of his presidency. In the future, his time in office will definitely be seen as one of the most significant in my lifetime. However, when you set certain expectations with the public, it is important to follow through on them.

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