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Discussing Politics
An interview with Senator Laphonza Butler, a Democrat from California, as she wraps up her last week in the Senate, reveals that a Harris supporter believes Biden failed to keep a commitment.
Written by Lisa Lerer
Laphonza Butler has 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 15 years.
This week, I interviewed Butler, who has had a longstanding partnership with Harris since they first met while Butler was working as a union leader in Los Angeles. Butler offers a unique perspective on why their party lost the presidential election and what steps can be taken to rebuild it.
Harris has not spoken publicly about the reasons for her loss. According to Butler, some of the responsibility lies with President Biden, who she believes went back on his promise by running for re-election. However, simply blaming Biden is not sufficient. Democrats need to shift from talking to actively listening, according to her.
Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Butler to take over the U.S. Senate seat that was vacated 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. On Monday, Representative Adam Schiff will be officially sworn in as the new senator representing the state.
The interview underwent editing to make it shorter and easier to understand.
LL: What is your opinion on the reasons for Harris’ loss
LB: The American people desired a shift in leadership. They were looking for a candidate who they believed embodied change. I believe that was the main reason for their choice.
Do you think Biden should not have entered the
President Biden originally stated that he would be a temporary leader, which was the expectation people had. It might have been better for him to stick to that plan. Despite this, his presidency has been successful and will be remembered as one of the most influential in my lifetime. However, when you set expectations with people, it is important to follow through on them.
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