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Breaking Promises: A Harris Ally’s Take on Politics and the Cost of Advertisement

In Citizen
January 18, 2025

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Discussion on Political Matters

A supporter of Kamala Harris claims that Joe Biden did not keep his word. A conversation with Senator Laphonza Butler, a Democrat from California, as she nears the end of her term in the Senate.

Written by Lisa Lerer

Laphonza Butler has only been a senator from California for a short period of time, approximately 15 months. However, she has been a strong supporter and friend of Vice President Kamala Harris for a decade and a half.

This 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 gives Butler a unique viewpoint on why her party lost the presidential election and what steps can be taken to rebuild.

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 a clear campaign promise by running for re-election. However, simply attributing the loss to Biden is not sufficient. Democrats need to move beyond talking and start actively listening to others.

Governor Gavin Newsom appointed 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. Next week, Representative Adam Schiff will be inaugurated as California’s newest senator.

The interview underwent editing to make it shorter and easier to understand.

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

Many Americans desired a shift and were looking for a candidate who embodied change. It seems that this was a major factor in their decision-making.

Is it possible that Biden should not have participated

At first, President Biden indicated that he would be a temporary leader, which was the expectation people had. It might have been better for him to stick with that plan. His presidency has been successful, and will likely be remembered as one of the most influential in my lifetime. When you set expectations with people, it’s important to follow through on them.

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