California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) revealed pitches are already being submitted for Sen. Kamala Harris’ (D-Calif.) Senate seat in the event she is elected Vice President of the United States in November.
During a press conference on Wednesday, a reporter asked Newsom if anyone had put their name in the hat in the event Harris vacates her Senate seat in California’s upper chamber. The Democratic governor suggested that he had already received multiple pitches.
“You may be the only one that hasn’t, unless you just did, and that is only slight exaggeration,” Newsom told the reporter.
However, he made it clear that he would not focus on the possible future of the Senate until after the election. At the moment, he is focused on the state’s coronavirus outbreak as he works to flatten the curve.
“I can’t be any more pointed privately than I am being publicly,” Newsom said. “That’s not what I’m focused on right now. I’m focused on what I need to be focused on, and that’s you and your health.”
If Biden is elected, Newsom would be faced with the decision of who to replace her in the Senate.
See Newsom’s remarks below:
I ask @GavinNewsom for insight on his friend @KamalaHarris & if anyone has pitched themselves for her Senate seat…if she wins?
— Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) August 13, 2020
"You may be the only one who hasn't…unless you just did," he jokes.
As for Harris, Newsom says he's proud as a Californian & a San Franciscan. pic.twitter.com/ZGCKeorVAV
Newsom’s latest remarks come as Harris hits the campaign trail with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
On Tuesday, Harris made history as the first Black woman and first woman of South Asian descent to be selected for a major party presidential ticket.
Shortly after Biden’s announcement, Democratic lawmakers rallied behind Harris as they showed major support of Biden’s decision, as previously reported on IJR.
On Thursday morning, Biden tweeted, “We are in a battle for the soul of this nation. And if we’re going to get through these crises — we need to come together and unite for a better America.
He continued, “[Kamala Harris] gets that — and I believe there’s no better person to help me get the job done.”
We are in a battle for the soul of this nation. And if we're going to get through these crises — we need to come together and unite for a better America.@KamalaHarris gets that — and I believe there's no better person to help me get the job done.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 13, 2020
The former vice president has also expressed confidence in Harris’ ability to be ready to work and lead on day one.