Prom
Discussion on Politics
A supporter of Kamala Harris claims that Joe Biden did not keep a promise. 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 only been a senator from California for approximately 15 months, but she has been a strong supporter and friend of Vice President Kamala Harris for 15 years.
This week, I interviewed Butler, who has been partnered with Harris for a long time. They first met when Butler was a union leader in Los Angeles. Butler’s unique perspective sheds light on why her party lost the presidential election and offers insights on how it can recover.
Harris has not publicly discussed the reasons for her loss. According to Butler, part of the blame lies with President Biden for breaking his campaign promise by running for re-election. However, simply pointing fingers at Biden is not sufficient. Democrats need to shift from talking to actively listening, according to Butler.
Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Butler to take over the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein in September 2023. Since Feinstein chose not to seek re-election, this week will be her final one in the Senate. Representative Adam Schiff will be inaugurated as the newest senator for the state on Monday.
The interview was shortened and made easier to understand by editing it.
LL: What is your opinion on the reasons for Harris’ loss
The American citizens desired a shift in leadership and were looking for a candidate they believed could bring about that change. This desire for change was a significant factor in the election.
Was it a mistake for Biden to run for
When President Biden first took office, he indicated that he would serve as 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 ignore the achievements of his presidency. Looking back, his time in office will be seen as highly influential in my lifetime. However, when you set expectations with people, it is important to follow through on them.
We are experiencing difficulties in accessing the content of the article.
To use this website, make sure JavaScript is enabled in your
We appreciate your patience as we confirm your access. If you are currently in Reader mode, please sign out and sign into your Times account, or consider subscribing to access all of The Times content.
We appreciate your understanding as we confirm access.
Are you currently a member? Please sign in.
Interested in receiving access to all articles and content from The Times?
Prom
Page Index
Navigation for Site Information