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Breaking Promises and Rebuilding: An Insider’s View on Politics and the Power of Listening

In Citizen
January 18, 2025

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Discussing Politics

A close supporter of Harris accuses Biden of not keeping his word

An interview 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 representing California for around 15 months, and has been a strong supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris for 15 years.

During the week, I had a conversation with Butler, who has had a longstanding partnership with Harris. They initially met when Butler was a union leader based in Los Angeles. This partnership provides Butler with a unique insight into why their party lost the presidential election and offers ideas on how it can be rebuilt.

Harris has not spoken much about the reasons for her loss. According to Butler, part of the blame lies with President Biden for breaking a clear campaign promise by seeking re-election. However, simply pointing fingers at Biden is not sufficient. Democrats should focus on listening and understanding instead of just talking.真正倾听。

Governor Gavin Newsom chose Butler to take over the U.S. Senate position that became available after Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away in September 2023. As Feinstein opted not to seek re-election, this week marks her final time serving in the Senate. Representative Adam Schiff will be officially sworn in as California’s newest senator on Monday.

The interview was shortened and made clearer for easier understanding.

LL: What is your opinion on why Harris did not win?

LB: The citizens of America desired a shift in leadership. They were looking for a candidate who they believed embodied the idea of change. And it seems that was the main reason for their choice.

Is it possible that Biden should not have entered

When President Biden first took office, he indicated that he would be a transitional leader. Many people expected this of him, so it might have been better for him to stick to that plan. Despite that, we can’t ignore the achievements of his presidency. Looking back, his time in office will be seen as highly influential in my lifetime. However, it’s important to stick to the expectations you set with people.

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