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Breaking Promises: A Harris Ally’s Perspective on Politics in the Newsletter Era

In Citizen
January 18, 2025

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Bulletin

Discussing Politics

A close associate of Kamala Harris claims that Joe Biden did not keep a promise during an interview with Senator Laphonza Butler, a Democrat from California, as she nears the end of her time in the Senate.

Authored by Lisa Lerer

Laphonza Butler has been a senator in California for a short period of around 15 months. Despite her brief time in this role, she has been a strong supporter and friend 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 when Butler was a union leader in Los Angeles. This partnership allows Butler to offer an interesting viewpoint on why her political party lost the presidential election and what steps can be taken to rebuild it.

Harris has not publicly discussed the reasons for her loss. Butler believes that part of the blame lies with President Biden, who she thinks went back on his promise by running for re-election. However, simply blaming Biden is not the solution. Democrats need to focus on listening and understanding, rather than just talking.

Governor Gavin Newsom chose Butler to take Senator Dianne Feinstein’s place in the U.S. Senate after her passing in September 2023. As Feinstein opted not to seek re-election, this week marks her final days in office. On Monday, Representative Adam Schiff will officially become the newest senator for the state.

The interview was condensed and made clearer for easier understanding.

LL: What is your opinion on why Harris was not successful in

LB: The American public desired a shift in leadership. They were looking for a candidate who they believed could bring about change. And that may be the reason why.

Do you think Biden should have not entered the

President Biden initially indicated that he would only serve as a transitional leader, which was the expectation many people had. It may have been better for him to stick to that plan. Despite the success of his presidency, it will likely be remembered as one of the most impactful in my lifetime. However, once expectations are set, it is important to follow through on them.

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