Former Vice President Kamala Harris issued a sweeping slate of endorsements Monday of California Democrats across a number of races ahead of the June primary.
The biggest missing endorsement: California’s gubernatorial race.
The crowded field of competitors for the governor’s seat would have seen a momentum shift had Harris endorsed, but Harris seems to be following the path of other California powerhouse figures in refusing to weigh in.
Harris had considered her own bid to govern California last year, where she would have been the predominant favorite, but ultimately did not run. She has hinted at considering another presidential run.
The lack of an endorsement has not stopped candidates from taking advantage of the moment. Progressive billionaire Tom Steyer, whose lead seems to have slipped, attacked the new Democratic frontrunner Xavier Becerra.
Both Becerra and Harris served in former President Joe Biden’s administration, yet the fact Harris didn’t back him shows a troubling record when he was Health and Human Services chief, the Steyer campaign claimed.
“Becerra’s colleagues in the Biden Administration had a front row seat to his incompetence, so it’s no surprise that they are sitting this one out,” said Steyer spokesperson Kevin Liao.
A spokesperson for the Becerra campaign didn’t immediately return a request for comment.
Harris joins former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Gov. Gavin Newsom in staying silent on the gubernatorial race.
Pelosi, who has immense sway in California politics, was reportedly uninterested in power broking this time around.
“People have reached out to me saying, ‘Your mom has to do something!’ She already did that with Biden and Harris. She’s not going to — don’t look to her to do that again,” Pelosi’s daughter Christine told CalMatters.
Newsom has repeatedly refused to support any one except to say he will vote for a Democrat in the general election.
“There are a lot of outstanding candidates with extraordinary records. I can name seven of them,” he had said.
The lack of endorsing comes as there were fears earlier in the election season that too many Democratic candidates would split the liberal vote. That would open up the possibility of two Republicans locking Democrats out of the general election under California’s election system.
