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Breaking Promises: A Harris Ally’s Perspective on Politics and the Democratic Party

In Citizen
January 18, 2025

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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. A close supporter of Harris claims that Biden did not keep a promise.

Written by Lisa Lerer

Laphonza Butler has been a senator from California for a short period of time, around 15 months. However, she has been a strong supporter and friend of Vice President Kamala Harris for a much longer period of 15 years.

During the week, I had a conversation with Butler, who has been in a long partnership with Harris. They initially met when Butler was a union leader in Los Angeles. This partnership provides her with a unique viewpoint on the reasons her party lost the presidential election and the strategies it could use to reconstruct itself.

Harris has not shared many details publicly about the reasons for her loss. According to Butler, part of the blame can be placed on President Biden for breaking a campaign promise by running for re-election. However, simply blaming Biden is not sufficient. Democrats need to shift from talking to actively listening and understanding.

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 marks her final week serving in the Senate. On Monday, Representative Adam Schiff will officially become the state’s latest senator after being sworn in.

The interview was shortened and made clearer through editing.

LL: What do you believe was the reason for Harris’s loss

Many Americans desired something different in their leadership. They sought a candidate who they believed embodied change. Perhaps, that is the main reason for the outcome.

Was it a mistake for Biden to run for

When President Biden first took office, he mentioned that he would be a transitional leader. This was the expectation that many people had. It might have been better for him to stick to that plan. Despite this, we cannot overlook the accomplishments of his presidency. Looking back, his time in office will be seen as one of the most significant in my lifetime. However, it is important to follow through on the expectations that are set with the public.

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