Please allow her to reintroduce herself

Jul 19, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event.

Vice President Kamala Harris has more eyes on her origin story as pressure mounts for President Joe Biden to step aside. | Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

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THE BUZZ: VEEP WATCH — If Joe Biden steps aside, many lawmakers and party delegates see Vice President Kamala Harris as Democrats' inevitable nominee. And that means far more eyes on her origin story.

But to understand Harris’ rise as the first Black, Asian American and female vice president, it’s necessary to look hard at how the Golden State shaped her political trajectory and instincts.

POLITICO’s California team huddled to brainstorm how Harris has been shaped by her time in California politics. (After all, we’re the reporters who’ve watched Harris’ career at every stage: from San Francisco district attorney to state attorney general, and later, California senator and VP.)

Check out today’s story from Lara, Melanie Mason and Jeremy B. White for a must-read, in-depth look at Harris’ life. Among the key highlights:

— The death penalty case that haunts her: Harris was district attorney when a San Francisco police officer, Isaac Espinoza, was killed by a gunman wielding an AK-47 in 2004. She opted to seek life in prison, but not the death penalty (a stance consistent with her opposition to capital punishment).

But Harris’ handling of the decision, which she announced days after Espinoza’s murder, would stick with her. Even the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein rebuked her decision, when she called for the death penalty as she spoke at Espinoza’s funeral.

The saga, many political observers argue, led to Harris’ overly cautious tendencies. Harris is a moderate on criminal justice issues, and her support for police often riled progressive activists in San Francisco and during her 2019 campaign for president.

But the Espinoza murder is an area where her record would likely be criticized by Republicans seeking to capitalize on voters’ frustrations about crime, if she ran for election instead of Biden.

— She took on oil companies: As the state’s attorney general, Harris regularly sued large fossil-fuel companies, amassing $50 million in settlements. She even sued the Obama-Biden administration over an environmental assessment that created a path for fracking off the coast.

Harris campaigned on her environmental record as a 2020 presidential candidate, seeking to appeal to climate-conscious, young voters. But she quickly embraced Biden’s support for fracking after she was tapped for VP. That stance would certainly be scrutinized.

— She shares a similar orbit with Newsom: Harris and Gov. Gavin Newsom both came up through the rough-and-tumble world of San Francisco politics in the early 2000s. While they've generally avoided direct competition with one another, the two have shared a parallel path, including the same group of supporters and mega donors.

They even have a common mentor: former Assembly speaker and Mayor Willie Brown, a political kingmaker in SF for decades. Brown, whom Harris dated in the mid-1990s, helped her and Newsom both get footholds in city politics by appointing them to powerful city boards.

GOOD MORNING. Happy Friday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook.

You can text us at ‪916-562-0685‬‪ — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on X — @DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte.

WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced; in meetings and briefings all day, per his staff.

TWEET OF THE DAY: Maria Shriver, a journalist and former first lady of California, on rumblings that Biden could soon exit the presidential race.

Shriver tweet

CAMPAIGN YEAR

The convention floor is seen during the final night of the Republican National Convention.

For Californian Republicans used to being far outnumbered in a deep-blue state, there was something refreshing about being surrounded by like-minded political junkies. | Francis Chung/POLITICO

RNC RAVES — The reviews are in from the California attendees at the RNC in Milwaukee and they are superlative.

“This is the best convention ever,” said Orange County GOP Rep. Michelle Steel, who has been attending GOP conventions since 1996.

Playbook spoke to California delegates Thursday afternoon before the final night of programming — including Donald Trump’s meandering marathon speech accepting the nomination.

Sure, some recency bias may be at play. But the GOP faithful are feeling especially jubilant this week at the party displays of unity — including from Trump’s former primary rivals — and the stark contrast with the disorder on the Democratic side.

Not to mention Trump’s near-brush with catastrophe in his assassination attempt just days earlier.

“Just that we’re having this convention — it almost didn’t happen,” said Riverside County Rep. Ken Calvert of his highlight of the week. “People are ecstatic that he lived.”

For Californian Republicans used to being far outnumbered in a deep-blue state, there was something refreshing about being surrounded by like-minded political junkies.

“It feels like you’re at MAGA summer camp,” said Peggy Grande, a delegate from Los Angeles who worked in the Reagan and Trump administrations. “And even just walking around Milwaukee … in every restaurant I looked into, every bar I looked into, people are wearing MAGA hats. I’m thinking, ‘Oh my goodness in LA, you would never do that.’”

The split-screen between the GOP lovefest and the Democrats’ drama was enough to shock even political veterans like Tony Strickland, a Huntington Beach city council member and former state senator who chairs the Trump campaign in Orange County.

“This whole thing is wild,” Strickland said, asserting that Democrats’ woes won’t be solved by jettisoning Biden from the top of the ticket.

“Kamala Harris will do worse than Joe Biden,” he said. “At least Joe can say I'm from Scranton, PA originally. People like Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom are way out of touch.”

But there were some limits to the feel-good unity vibes. Norm Watkins, a first-time attendee (and father of CA GOP executive director Bryan Watkins), said the confab exceeded his expectations — “and 99 percent of the ways are good.”

“But I never realized how vicious the battle can get for aisle seats on the floor,” he said. Lesson learned by night four: he and his wife Suzie Watkins staked out coveted seats hours before the program began. — Melanie Mason

The CNN-POLITICO Grill has quickly become a key gathering place for policymakers and thought-leaders attending the RNC in Milwaukee.

On Tuesday, POLITICO and Bayer convened two conversations: a discussion with Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Rep. G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) and an executive conversation with Bayer’s Jessica Christiansen, senior vice president and head of crop science and sustainability communications.

The conversations focused on the news of the day in Milwaukee, including deeper discussion centered on the critical challenges faced by the agriculture sector.

CATCH UP HERE

California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Gov. Gavin Newsom. | Juliana Yamada/AP

LAST-DITCH EFFORT? — As calls from Democrats for Biden to exit the 2024 race grew, a Newsom-led super PAC dropped hundreds of thousands of dollars on texts backing the president, documents show.

Federal Elections Commission filings generated late yesterday evening indicate Newsom’s Campaign for Democracy Group spent more than $800,000 on text messages sent this past Tuesday in support of Biden’s re-election campaign. It’s unclear from the documents what the content of the text messages was or who received them.

Newsom has been one of the president’s most vocal allies, traveling to Georgia, Michigan and New Hampshire to stump for Biden as others call for him to step aside. A Newsom spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment. — Tyler Katzenberger

CLIMATE AND ENERGY

PORTAL KOMBAT — California is poised to hand out millions in federal funds for EV chargers this fall with a string attached — they have to include a charging port system losing favor with drivers and automakers. Read more in last night’s California Climate.

TOP TALKERS

Former President Donald Trump gestures in the VIP box while standing next to his vice presidential pick, JD Vance, during the final night of the Republican National Convention.

Former Donald Trump at the RNC in Milwaukee. | Francis Chung/POLITICO

— Trump delivered his nomination speech at the RNC last night — the longest televised acceptance speech ever at 92 minutes. Read more here from our POLITICO colleagues who were there in Milwaukee.

— Some close Trump allies say his edges have been softened by the attempt on his life. As POLITICO’s Natalie Allison reports, people close to the bombastic former president say he’s been more “emotional” and even “spiritual.”

— Democratic Rep. Jim Costa is the latest California House member to call on Biden to “pass the torch to the next generation.” In a statement, the representative from Fresno said Biden should step aside for the “good of the country” and so Democrats can unite to create the strongest ticket. (GV Wire)

AROUND THE STATE

— Turnout among voters of color in the San Joaquin Valley could be crucial to the fate of two races that could determine which party controls the House. Republican incumbents David Valadao and John Duarte both represent Latino-majority districts with more registered Democrats than Republicans. (The Sacramento Bee)

— UC San Diego has received approval from the Board of Regents to build massive dorm towers, which will include space for 6,000 students. It’s one of the largest campus housing projects in the UC system's history. (The San Diego Union-Tribune)

PLAYBOOKERS

Erin Mellon

Erin Mellon, Newsom's former communications director. | Courtesy of the governor's office.

PEOPLE MOVES — Erin Mellon has started her position as vice president of strategic communications at the California Medical Association. She was previously Newsom’s communications director and spent four years shaping the governor’s comms strategy. Read here for more about Melon’s departure.

— Speaking of Newsom’s team, there are several new additions to his press shop: Camille Zapata is now digital director. She previously ran her own consulting firm. Zapata replaced Tonya LaMont, who departed after five years with the office.

Diana Crofts-Pelayo has joined as deputy director of comms and will lead messaging on public safety and Spanish-language media efforts. She previously helped lead comms at the California Office of Emergency Services.

Elana Ross has joined as deputy director of communications and will lead messaging on public health issues. She previously worked for the Biden administration’s Department of Health and Human Services.

Tara Gallegos has joined as deputy director of comms and will lead messaging on housing and homelessness. She previously led strategic comms efforts at the AG’s office.

Brandon Richards has taken on a new role as deputy director for rapid response. He’ll oversee response to breaking news, including emergency response.

Kate Cohee has been promoted to deputy director of digital, managing the office’s social media platforms.

— Ana Sandoval, a senior adviser with Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, will retire tomorrow. She has been with Planned Parenthood for nearly 20 years.

— The law firm Michelman & Robinson has announced the promotion of two Southern California-based partners: Jeff Farrow, who will chair the litigation department; and Harpreet Walia, who will lead the corporate, M&A, securities and real estate practice.

— Stephen Ma has joined the law firm Saul Ewing as a partner in its Los Angeles office. Ma is a veteran trial attorney in the area of entertainment and real estate disputes.

BIRTHDAYS — Graham Knaus of the California State Association of Counties … Jacob Kirn of the California Department of Finance …

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS — (on Saturday): Susannah Delano of Close the Gap California … Elle Hoxworth, legislative director for Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel …

(on Sunday): Laura Bennett of California Advisors … Nick Romo of Cruz Strategies … Lila Mirrashidi, deputy secretary of the state Business Consumer Services Housing Agency …

(on Wednesday): Alex Zucco … John Nienstedt of Competitive Edge Research …

(July 26): Robert Gonzalez of Teamsters Local 1932

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