‘Let’s go win this.’ What California Democrats are saying about Biden’s VP pick of Kamala Harris

Tuesday’s news that Sen. Kamala Harris would be presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s running mate struck social media like a thunderclap.

“I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked (Harris) — a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants — as my running mate,” Biden wrote on Twitter.

California lawmakers and officials rushed to Twitter to congratulate Harris on the announcement and voice their enthusiasm for the newly announced ticket.

Gov. Gavin Newsom was among them.

“Principled. Brilliant. Compassionate. Empathetic. Honest. The perfect choice for (Biden). That’s (Harris). Let’s go win this,” Newsom wrote on Twitter.

San Francisco Democrat and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote on Twitter that “(Biden’s) naming of Sen. (Harris) as the Democratic nominee for Vice President marks an historic and proud milestone for our country. As vice president, Sen. Harris will continue her legacy of trailblazing leadership to move our nation forward.”

Harris will be the first Black vice presidential nominee of a major party ticket and the first Asian American to appear on a presidential ticket. She is the daughter of Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who was born in India, and Donald Harris, born in Jamaica.

Rep. Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, herself a rumored vice presidential selection, wrote on Twitter praising Harris after the selection was announced.

“Her tenacious pursuit of justice and relentless advocacy for the people is what is needed right now,” Bass wrote.

Other California officials to offer their congratulations included Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who succeeded Harris when she won a seat in the U.S. Senate. Becerra called the decision a “historic and game-changing” ticket in a post on Twitter.

State Treasurer Fiona Ma has known Harris for 25 years. Ma was a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors when Harris served as the city’s prosecutor. They worked together to aim to reform laws on domestic violence, human trafficking and rape, and remain close friends.

“She always fights for those who don’t have a voice,” Ma told The Bee. Harris, she said, brings a special sensitivity because she is a woman. “A lot of the issues she takes on are personal,” Ma said.

While several California lawmakers tweeted their praise for Biden’s selection, not all were effusive.

Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, wrote on Twitter about his concerns over who Gov. Newsom would select to fill Harris’ seat, should she and Biden win election in November.

“The Legislature must immediately pass my bill to assure a successor to Kamala Harris would be chosen by a vote of the people, not a backroom deal with Gavin Newsom,” Kiley wrote.

President Donald Trump appeared to respond to the announcement by tweeting a video from his campaign referring to the historic vice presidential candidate as “Phony Kamala” and alleging that Biden is “handing over the reigns to Kamala while they jointly embrace the radical left.”

Here’s what other Californians are saying about the Harris decision:

• “Since I joined the Senate, the number of women senators has leapt from two to 26, with more than 100 women in the House. Now a woman will hold the second-most-powerful job in the world. Kamala will show young girls in America and around the world that glass ceilings no longer exist –we’ve brought them down around us.”
  
  - Sen. Dianne Feinstein
• “Kamala Harris wants to turn the entire United States into San Fransisco. Her radical agenda has been terrible for Californians, and it would be terrible for the rest of America too.”
  
  - House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, via Twitter.
• “Kamala Harris epitomizes the extremist far left. She has compared law enforcement to the KKK, wants to eliminate the private health insurance millions of families rely on and failed to keep California streets safe when it was her job to do so. Biden has chosen to cater to the far-left with this radical pick. In every single office she has held in San Francisco and statewide, Kamala Harris has failed Californians. Our nation deserves better than her out-of-touch radical policies.”
  
  - The California GOP, via Twitter.
• “I’ve worked with (Harris) for years and I appreciate her fierce leadership on so many important issues. She and (Biden) will restore the soul of our nation and make the American Dream more real for working families.”
  
  - California Secretary of State Alex Padilla.

• “We find ourselves in a moment with so much at stake. We are gripped by a pandemic, economic collapse, and an uprising against racial injustice. And as a country, we lack the mature, experienced leadership we so desperately need. We need more than change. We need a restoration of competence and trust to the White House. That’s why the selection of Kamala Harris is so vital. She is the right choice for Joe Biden and she is the right choice for America.”

  - April Verrett, president SEIU Local 2015

• “Pretty sure she locked up more of the black population in prison than she will lock up in their votes.”
  
  - State Sen. Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, via Twitter..

• “The fact that Democrats picked the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants for VP tells you what we stand for. (Harris) went to Howard and rose up through hard work. She represents a multi-racial, multi-cultural future for America.”
  
  - Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Fremont, via Twitter.

• “I’m over the moon that (Biden) has selected the amazing (Harris) — my friend of almost 20 years — as his running mate. Kamala will help win this election, will help heal our nation & is ready to lead. This is a great day for the Democratic Party & for our country.”
  
  - State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, via Twitter.

• “Hella proud. Our country needs this fierce + compassionate woman in the White House. Now let’s fight like hell for a (Biden-Harris) win in Nov.”
  
  - Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, via Twitter.

• “I’m looking forward to the Confederate flag question in the Vice Presidential debate.”
  
  - Lincoln Project co-founder Mike Madrid, via Twitter.

McClatchy reporter David Lightman contributed to this report.

This story was originally published August 11, 2020 at 2:38 PM with the headline "‘Let’s go win this.’ What California Democrats are saying about Biden’s VP pick of Kamala Harris."