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Unpacking the Political Fallout: A Harris Ally’s Perspective on Biden’s Broken Promise

In Citizen
January 18, 2025

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Publication

Discussing Politics

A close supporter of Harris claims that Biden failed to keep a promise in an interview with Senator Laphonza Butler, a Democrat from California, in her last week in the Senate.

Written by Lisa Lerer

Laphonza Butler has been a senator from California for a short period of 15 months. However, she has been a strong supporter and friend of Vice President Kamala Harris for a long 15-year period.

Earlier this week, I had a conversation with Butler, who has had a close working relationship with Harris for a long time. They first crossed paths when Butler was a union leader in Los Angeles. This partnership gives Butler a unique insight into why her political party lost the presidential election and how they can work towards rebuilding and regaining strength.

Harris has not spoken openly about the reasons for her loss. According to Butler, part of the blame lies with President Biden, who she feels went back on his word by running for re-election. However, solely blaming Biden is not the solution. Democrats need to shift from talking to actively listening, according to Butler.

Governor Gavin Newsom chose Butler to take over the U.S. Senate position that became vacant after Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away in September 2023. As Feinstein chose not to seek re-election, this week marks her final days in the Senate. On Monday, Representative Adam Schiff will officially become the state’s newest senator.

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

LL: What is your opinion on the reasons for Harris’s loss

LB: The American citizens desired a shift in leadership. They sought a candidate who embodied the idea of change. It seems that this desire for change was the driving force behind their decision.

Was it a mistake for Biden to run for

When President Biden first took office, he indicated that he would only serve as a transitional leader. This was the expectation that people had. It might 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 influential in my lifetime. However, once you set expectations with people, it’s important to follow through on them.

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