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Breaking Promises: A Harris Ally’s Perspective on Politics, Advertisement, and Newsletters

In Citizen
January 18, 2025

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Opinion on Political Matters

A supporter of Harris claims that Biden did not keep his word

A conversation with Senator Laphonza Butler, a member of the Democratic Party from California, as she nears the end of her time in the Senate.

Written by Lisa Lerer

Laphonza Butler has been a senator representing California for approximately 15 months, despite having a strong friendship with Vice President Kamala Harris for 15 years.

This week, I had a conversation with Butler, who has been in a long-term partnership with Harris since they first met when Butler was a union leader in Los Angeles. Through this partnership, Butler offers a unique viewpoint on why their party lost the presidential election and what steps can be taken to rebuild.

Harris has not openly discussed the reasons for her loss. According to Butler, part of the blame lies with President Biden for breaking a clear campaign promise by seeking re-election. However, Butler believes that simply blaming Biden is not sufficient. Democrats need to shift from talking to actively listening, truly listening to the concerns of others.

Governor Gavin Newsom selected Butler to take over the vacant U.S. Senate seat following the passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein in September 2023. Feinstein chose not to seek re-election, making this her final week in office. On Monday, Representative Adam Schiff will be inaugurated as the state’s latest senator.

The interview was shortened and made clearer for easier understanding.

LL is curious about the reasons behind Harris’ loss.

LB: The American public desired a shift in leadership. They were looking for a candidate who embodied the idea of change. That could be the primary reason for their choice.

Was it a mistake for Biden to run for

When President Biden first took office, he indicated that he would only serve as a temporary leader. This was the expectation many people had, and it may have been better for him to stick to that plan. Despite the success of his presidency, which will likely be regarded as one of the most significant in my lifetime, once expectations are set with the public, it’s important to follow through on them.

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