Governor Jerry Brown has thrown his weight behind Attorney General and US Senate candidate Kamala Harris in a speech at the Democratic Party’s California headquarters yesterday. Brown’s endorsement is a major boost to Harris’ bid to be the replacement for Senator Barbara Boxer, who is leaving the Senate, and a serious blow to US Representative Loretta Sanchez, who is her main opponent for the seat.
After the speech, Harris told reporters that she was honored that Brown had chosen to give her his endorsement and gave her thanks to the Governor for doing so. Harris says that Brown is well known for always giving an honest opinion making it a real honor for him to tell California voters that she would make for a tough leader.
Over 30 candidates are running for the open Senate seat in California on the primary ballot on June 7. The two candidates who receive the most votes will then get to fight it out in the general election in November. Harris informed reporters that immigration reform was one of the primary reasons why she decided to seek out national office.
Harris says that the state of California has a major stake in the ultimate outcome of the debate over immigration in the United States and that the country’s only way forward is to pass comprehensive immigration reform, adding that her own parents were in fact immigrants. Harris also made a point of emphasizing her strong record supporting homeowners who were adversely impacted by the housing crisis.