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Breaking Promises: A Harris Ally’s Perspective on Politics and the Power of Advertisement in Newsletters

In Citizen
January 18, 2025

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Discussing Politics

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

A conversation with Senator Laphonza Butler, who is a Democrat from California, as she finishes her last week in the Senate.

Written by Lisa Lerer

Laphonza Butler has been a senator in California for around 15 months, but she has been a strong supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris for 15 years.

Recently, I had a conversation with Butler, who has had a lengthy collaboration with Harris. They first crossed paths when Butler was a union leader in Los Angeles. Through their partnership, Butler has gained unique insights into why their political party lost the presidential election and what steps could be taken to recover.

Harris has not spoken publicly about the reasons for her loss. According to Butler, part of the blame lies with President Biden, who she believes went back on his promise by running for re-election. However, simply pointing fingers at Biden is not sufficient. Democrats, Butler suggests, need to shift from talking to actively listening and truly hearing others.

Governor Gavin Newsom selected 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 office. On Monday, Representative Adam Schiff will officially become California’s newest senator.

The interview was shortened and made clearer through editing.

LL: In your opinion, what do you think caused Harris to

LB: The American citizens desired a shift in leadership. They were looking for a candidate who they believed embodied change. That could be the primary reason for the outcome.

Is it possible that Biden should not have chosen

When President Biden first took office, he indicated that he would be a transitional leader. This was the expectation that people had at the time. It might have been better for him to stick to that plan. Despite the success of his presidency, it is likely to be seen as one of the most impactful in my lifetime. However, once you set expectations with people, it is important to follow through on them.

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