Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., didn’t receive the homecoming she expected during her campaign tour of the state last weekend.
As the 2020 Democratic hopeful traversed both the northern and southern parts of the state, she found herself frequently outshined by opponents such as Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts at both the Unity and Freedom Presidential Forum in Pasadena and California Democratic Convention in San Francisco.
Across the bay in Oakland, Calif., Friday, apathy and even distaste toward the home-state senator was apparent at a town hall hosted by Warren on Laney College’s soccer field.
Kayd Miller, a 26-year-old recent graduate of Mills College who prefers to be referred to with “they/them” pronouns, was one of 6,500 people who attended the largest event held so far of Warren’s presidential campaign. Many brought picnic rugs for the occasion.
“I think Oakland was really impacted by Kamala Harris’ actions when she was district attorney and attorney general of the state, and it really doesn’t sit well. One example that’s still out there is her truancy policy that put an undue burden on working class families, particularly if they worked multiple jobs,” Miller said.
Miller, who still has an open mind regarding their preferred nominee, said they were drawn to Warren’s “actionable” policy plans but was also intrigued to learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii given her diverse background and military experience. Miller, while understanding Biden’s pull, would hesitate before supporting the former vice president or South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
Jerry Harrison, 69, told the Washington Examiner he was simply more impressed by other contenders’ track records, such as Warren’s time at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and history of clashing with corporations and Republicans.
“I’m sure Kamala would be a fine alternative and would stand up to Donald Trump, but I haven’t followed her closely and I’m not sure she’s accomplished anything,” the retiree from Alameda said. “My heart is with Warren, but if Kamala became the candidate I would absolutely support her. You’d have to be Hannibal Lecter for me to think twice about not backing the Democrat.”
Polls from the state reflect Democrats’ hesitation in giving her the nomination as well, according to early polls. A Change Research survey put Harris at 15%, behind both Biden and Sanders, with Buttigieg a close fourth at 12%.
Despite the lagging poll numbers, Harris remains confident she can pull off a win in California, especially when the alternative means she’ll likely be forced to drop out. Last Thursday, a day before her first event in the state, her campaign announced endorsements from 33 California Assembly members.
“I am proud to endorse Kamala Harris for president of the United States,” said Speaker Anthony Rendon. “Sen. Harris is the strongest in this field to stand up to Donald Trump, restore stability to Washington and has the proven leadership and poise that this nation deserves.
