In abstract
California’s governor casts the state’s votes for Harris within the ceremonial roll name and provides her a rousing endorsement.
CHICAGO — Many citizens have gotten to know extra about Vice President Kamala Harris prior to now few weeks.
However, having come up politically throughout the identical time one county over, Gov. Gavin Newsom has seen her star rise for the final 20 years, he mentioned this night throughout the ceremonial roll name nominating Harris on the Democratic Nationwide Conference.
After touting California’s range and its standing as “the great state of Nancy Pelosi,” Newsom traced Harris’ journey from a prosecutor in Alameda County to vice chairman.
“Kamala Harris has always done the right thing,” he mentioned. “A champion for voting rights, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, the rights for women and girls. So Democrats — and independents — it’s time for us to do the right thing and elect Kamala Harris as president of the United States.”
The 2 minutes of airtime was Newsom’s newest alternative to construct his nationwide stature. It labored for former President Barack Obama, who’s talking later tonight and whose 2004 conference speech thrust him into the highlight.
It wasn’t clear whether or not Newsom will get one other talking slot on the conference earlier than it ends Thursday night time with Harris’s acceptance speech.
The governor was tapped to current the tally of all 482 California delegates who voted for Harris — like his predecessor, Jerry Brown, did in 2016. However this time, as her dwelling state, California had the respect of going final.
His distinguished position is a sign that Newsom, who was certainly one of President Joe Biden’s most vocal supportershas a spot within the Harris marketing campaign and attainable administration.
Whereas Newsom appeared to have gone comparatively quiet after Biden stepped apart July 21, Nathan Click on, a spokesperson for Newsom, informed CalMatters earlier this month that Newsom was actively fundraising for Harris, and that they had been finalizing plans for him to hit the marketing campaign path after the conference.
Instantly after the roll name, the governor did an interview with CNN through which he centered on the distinction between Harris and former President Donald Trump.
Whereas the governor denies that he was ever pursuing the 2024 nomination, Harris’ ascendance presents a few obstacles, ought to he select to ultimately run for president.
Some anticipated he would run in 2028. But when Harris wins in November, she may serve two phrases. Meaning the subsequent alternative for Newsom could be 2032 — which, since his time period as governor ends in 2026, could be a very long time to attempt to keep related.
One other attainable hurdle could be promoting the nation on the second president in a row from California — a state whose repute is usually a powerful promote to some who lean extra average or conservative.
Nonetheless, a minimum of one advisor thinks focusing his consideration on California would assist Newsom.
“With Kamala as the nominee, he needs to turn his attention from being nationally focused to California,” mentioned Brian Parvizshahi, a advisor who beforehand labored for Obama’s marketing campaign. “He needs to make sure positions himself to have a strong legacy over these next two years. Especially as he needs to give voters a reason to elect two California Democrats as president.”
