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Breaking Promises and Rebuilding: A Harris Ally’s Perspective on Politics

In Citizen
January 18, 2025

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Political Matters

A close associate of Kamala Harris accuses Joe Biden of not keeping his word

A conversation with Senator Laphonza Butler, a member of the Democratic Party from California, in her last week serving in the Senate.

Written by Lisa Lerer

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

This week, I had a conversation with Butler, who has been in a long-term partnership with Harris since they first met when Butler was a union leader in Los Angeles. Butler’s unique perspective sheds light on the reasons behind her party’s loss in the presidential election and offers insights on how it can work towards rebuilding.

Harris has not spoken much about the reasons behind her loss. According to Butler, part of the blame lies with President Biden for going back on his promise not to run for re-election. However, simply blaming Biden is not sufficient. Democrats need to stop speaking and begin actively listening, according to Butler.

Governor Gavin Newsom chose Butler to take over the vacant U.S. Senate seat after Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away in September 2023. Since Feinstein opted not to seek re-election, this week marks her final days in the Senate. Representative Adam Schiff will be officially sworn in as the newest senator from the state of California on Monday.

The interview was shortened and made clearer for easier understanding.

LL is asking for the reasons behind Harris’ loss.

LB: The American people desired a shift in leadership. They were looking for a candidate that they believed embodied change. And that might just be the crux of it.

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 may have been better for him to stick to that plan. Despite the undeniable success of his presidency, it is important to remember the expectations set at the beginning. Looking back, his time in office will be remembered as one of the most impactful in my lifetime. It is crucial to uphold the promises made to the people.

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