California Democrats line up behind Harris — with big exceptions

SAN FRANCISCO — Within minutes of President Joe Biden dropping out of the race, many California lawmakers and Democratic delegates threw their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.

But there were key Golden State powerbrokers and candidates who stayed silent, opting not to follow Biden in coronating their fellow Californian, who said she will seek the party’s nomination and run against former President Donald Trump.

House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi , who led an intraparty effort to convince Biden to step aside, somberly praised the president for putting “our country first.” Pelosi’s statement didn’t mention Harris, a former fellow San Franciscan who shares many of Pelosi’s supporters and donors.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, himself a potential contender for the nomination, has previously said he would support Harris if the president left the race. On Sunday, however, the governor’s statement also didn’t mention Harris .

In addition, most Democrats running for swing California House seats sidestepped the vice president in their comments. Among them were state Sen. Dave Min, Rudy Salas, Will Rollins, Derek Tran and George Whitesides — who are all vying for battleground seats in Southern California.

Rep. Mike Levin , who represents a swing coastal district in San Diego and Orange counties, was the only battleground House Democrat in the state to quickly endorse Harris’ candidacy.

“It is time to move forward with Kamala Harris as our new leader. Together,” Levin tweeted.

But Harris — a former California senator, state attorney general and San Francisco district attorney — will have no shortage of allies boosting her candidacy from the West Coast.

Sen. Laphonza Butler , a close Kamala Harris ally who was appointed to the seat by Newsom, told POLITICO that the vice president is as “as well positioned as she could be to lead and lead the ticket forward." Butler cited Harris’ work in recent years as the Biden administration’s top messenger on Democrats’ efforts to restore abortion rights at the federal level.

Other prominent California Democrats who endorsed Harris on Sunday: Sen. Alex Padilla ; Reps. Adam Schiff , Katie Porter , Barbara Lee ; and mayors Karen Bass and London Breed, of Los Angeles and San Francisco, respectively.

Within moments of Biden endorsing Harris, her California allies were already working the phones to secure support from party delegates . How the party will move forward with its nomination process was still up in the air, though. Some party leaders, including former President Barack Obama, are pushing for an open convention.

Rep. Robert Garcia , a close friend of the vice president who chaired Harris’ 2020 campaign for president, was among those trying to shore up delegates. He said he expected Democrats would back Harris well ahead of the party’s August convention, arguing she’s in the strongest position to take on Trump.

“This is over. Everyone needs to unite behind the vice president,” Garcia told POLITICO. “She’s going to prosecute a criminal is what she’s going to do.”

Melanie Mason contributed to this report.