Kamala Harris rallies Democrats, pledges to unite America
Vice President Kamala Harris takes the stage to deliver her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on Aug. 22, 2024. Photo by Kevin Lamarque, Reuters
In the biggest speech of her political career so far, Vice President Kamala Harris told Americans Thursday night that she will bring the country together, build the middle class and govern with common sense.
“With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism, and divisive battles of the past — a chance to chart a New Way Forward, not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans,” Harris said, formally accepting the Democratic presidential nomination. “I promise to be a president for all Americans.”
“I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations,” she added. “A president who leads — and listens.”
But at the same time, Harris didn’t shy from going after her GOP opponent, former President Donald Trump. And party leaders at the Democratic convention made sure to stress the importance of defeating Republicans and winning control of Congress.
That message certainly came through loud and clear to California delegates, CalMatters’ Sameea Kamal reports from Chicago.
Though Harris is a sure bet to win California in November, the state has as many as six competitive U.S. House seats up for grabs. If Democrats win most of those seats, that could flip the chamber — which would help Harris enact her agenda, if elected.
Jaime Harrison, chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, to California delegates on Thursday: “On a championship team you have an MVP, you have a coach. But you don’t have a championship team unless you have some really damn good role players. We, my friends, are the role players.”
Harris did not show up to her home-state delegation breakfasts. Instead, she has been strategic with her time and image. She’s been courting voters from swing states and distancing herself from her “progressive prosecutor” label.
But leading up to her big speech Thursday night, California delegates remained loyal in their support. Said Necola Adams of Merced: “Seeing our person from our ‘hood, our state, right? … When she walks out on the stage, that’s going to be the ‘it’ for a lot of us.”
Read more in Sameea’s latest dispatch from Chicago.
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CalMatters events: The next is Sept. 12 on the battle over California’s groundwater. Register here to attend virtually. On Sept. 19, CalMatters economy reporter Levi Sumagaysay, who is covering the homeowners’ insurance crisis, will interview California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. Register here to attend in person at our Sacramento offices or virtually.
Other Stories You Should Know
Meet Assemblymember Mia Bonta
Assemblymember Mia Bonta speaks in support of equity cannabis tax reform during a rally at the state Capitol on Jan. 13, 2021. Photo by Rahul Lal for CalMatters
Assemblymember Mia Bonta did not expect Speaker Robert Rivas to appoint her as the chairperson of the health committee. But the Oakland Democrat said “it made sense” since her district includes the headquarters of some of the state’s biggest health care systems, including Kaiser Permanente and Blue Shield.
Bonta, who is married to Attorney General Rob Bonta, has had some political dustups due to the relationship, but says there are no conflicts of interest. I talked with her this week about her role and health-related measures, including Prop. 35 on the Nov. 5 ballot (which she supports), Prop. 36 (which she opposes) and a bill concerning the attorney general’s office. The interview has been shortened for clarity and length.
How do you wish to steer the committee?
I’m focused on three things that were open questions I went into with this year as chair, and certainly became more puzzling concerns.
One is around overall access and equity issues. At the end of the day, we have over 3 million Californians who don’t have access to health insurance that they can afford. That’s not okay. I’m also deeply concerned with making sure that we have the healthcare infrastructure to support Californians. The third issue is making sure that we have a holistic approach to health care.
A bill would enable the attorney general to oversee private equity firms from acquiring major health care institutions, which has been amended to exempt for-profit hospitals. What do you think of this effort?
One of the biggest issues that we have … is the continued corporatization of our healthcare industry, so I’m very excited that (Assemblymember Jim Wood) brought that bill forward.
We had our last day of honoring our Assemblymembers who were departing, and Wood’s closing remarks essentially reminded us: “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.” To focus on the exclusion of private hospitals is reminiscent of that kind of ideology. It’s the right step forward. I am certain that soon we will be able to tackle the issue of private hospitals from there.
There have been some legislative proposals to slow the rate of maternity wards closing across the state. What more can be done to stop “maternity care deserts” from emerging?
I’m a mother of three who had very short deliveries. We have these maternity deserts where people have to travel two hours to be able to get to their nearest hospital to deliver their baby. We should make sure that we’re offering reimbursement rates to hospitals that make it possible for them to be able to keep their maternity wards open.
You have a bill to allow Medi-Cal to cover “prescriptions” of healthy foods. A similar effort died last year. Do you believe it’ll advance this year?
I had a mother who worked every single day of her life and often had to make very challenging choices between paying the rent and making sure that there was food in the refrigerator. She used to say that we were on special diets. I remember being on a “special” peanut butter and celery diet one day because I opened the refrigerator and that was all that was there.
Food insecurity is a very real thing for working people and that shouldn’t be the case. If we were smart about our dollars, we would focus on prevention and intervention. … By providing access to healthy foods people have a lower incidence of heart disease, kidney issues, diabetes, you name it. It’s smart policy.
Meet more chairpersons: Read my interviews with Sens. Catherine Blakespear at elections, Anna Caballero at appropriations, Lola Smallwood-Cuevas at labor and Dave Cortese at transportation. And Assembly committee chairpersons: Kevin McCarty at public safety, Chris Ward at housing committee and Alex Lee at human services.
CA beefs up workplace investigators
Wexler’s Deli inside the Grand Central Market in Los Angeles on Jan. 19, 2022. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters
From CalMatters Capitol reporter Jeanne Kuang:
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health says it’s making some progress addressing crippling staff vacancies that have challenged its enforcement of workplace safety laws.
On Thursday, it announced the hiring of a chief and eight investigators since July to a unit that investigates workplace violations involving serious injuries and worker deaths in which the state recommends criminal charges against the employers.
The Sacramento Bee recently reported the unit has been so understaffed that at one point, only one criminal investigator covered the entire state. The division has been on a recruitment binge as its overall understaffing — a problem across the state’s labor agencies — has frustrated lawmakers and workers’ advocates. The division’s regular enforcement branch was nearly 40% vacant this spring.
In July, CalMatters reported that Cal/OSHA’s enforcement of heat protections for outdoor workers has significantly declined since before the pandemic, with the agency conducting nearly 25% fewer inspections and issuing about 40% fewer violations in 2023 than 2019, despite the state facing increasing heat waves.
In other Capitol news:
Early releases: On Thursday Republican legislators and crime victim advocates rallied at the state Capitol to oppose Senate Bill 94, which would allow judges to consider reduced sentences for some people who are serving life without parole. Republicans blasted the bill from Democratic Sen. Cortese of Campbell as a “pro-criminal” measure that would retraumatize victims or family members who may have to testify again at parole hearings. In response, Cortese said the bill is narrowly crafted and is about “trying to catch those few cases that may have been improperly handled in the first place.”
Tribal officers: Assemblymember James Ramos of San Bernardino promoted his bill Wednesday to establish a pilot program to grant some tribal police officers the legal status of California peace officers. The San Bernardino Democrat says the bill will help strengthen public safety in Native communities, particularly with missing and murdered Indigenous women. According to Ramos, California ranked seventh worst in the country for unsolved Indigenous murders in 2018. “Today, California is in the top 5,” he said. “We are going in the wrong direction.”
CalMatters covers the Capitol: We have guides and stories to keep track of bills and your lawmakers; find out how well legislators are representing you; explore the Legislature’s record diversity; and to make your voice heard.
And lastly: Firefighters and health care workers
A firefighter gestures as the Park Fire burns near Chico on July 25, 2024. Photo by Fred Greaves, Reuters
To try to control multiple wildfires burning across California, Cal Fire relies on a mutual aid system. CalMatters environmental reporter Julie Cart and producer Robert Meeks have a video segment about it as part of our partnership with PBS SoCal. Watch it here.
Some healthcare workers will get a minimum wage of $25 an hour. CalMatters health reporter Ana B. Ibarra explains the limitations for certain workers. Watch that video here.
SoCalMatters airs at 5:58 p.m. weekdays on PBS SoCal.
California Voices
CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: Oakland politics has devolved into identity politics and symbolism. Former mayor (and former governor) Jerry Brown might be able to save Oakland from itself.
Other things worth your time:
Some stories may require a subscription to read.
Labor leader: Gov. Gavin Newsom ‘enamored’ with AI at workers’ expense // San Francisco Chronicle
Prop. 36 could threaten treatment, recidivism programs // The Sacramento Bee
Another CA gun law blocked over ‘historical tradition’ test // San Francisco Chronicle
Feds raid multiple OC properties tied to Supervisor Andrew Do’s daughter // LAist
Simon hasn’t won her House race, but had prime DNC billing // San Francisco Chronicle
DWP officials’ tab at conference paid with mislabeled invoices // Los Angeles Times
Sikh activists fear assassination attempt in NorCal freeway shooting // KQED
Silicon Valley school district spent big on ‘energy healer’ // San Francisco Chronicle
Eureka schools refuse mystery developer’s $6M deal // North Coast Journal
SF parents have a new hack: Sending kids off solo in a Waymo // The San Francisco Standard
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