Harris has got endorsements from Obama, Biden.
California Attorney General Kamala Harris, who seems to be a sure bet for the US Senate in her race against fellow Democrat Rep. Loretta Sanchez, has got some support from unexpected quarters: former New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
Bloomberg is hosting a fundraiser for Harris in New York tonight, with Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) as the event’s “special guest.” Schumer this month endorsed Harris over her rival, Rep. Loretta Sanchez of Orange County, reported the Los Angeles Times.
In November, Harris and Sanchez face off in the race to succeed Barbara Boxer, who is retiring after four terms in the Senate.
Bloomberg, a billionaire business magnate who’s been a Republican, Democrat and independent, has contributed millions over the years to California ballot measures and politicians. At last month’s Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, he also took the stage to criticize Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump as a failed businessman, reported the Times.
Harris, meanwhile, has had a steady stream of endorsements, including from president Barack Obama and vice president Joe Biden.
Earlier this month, she also got endorsements from three prominent current and former state politicians: state Senate President Kevin De Leόn, Sen. Ricardo Lara and former Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, reported the Times.
The endorsements from some of the state’s most influential Latino politicians are a coup for Harris, who remains the front-runner in the Senate race. Still, recent opinion polls show Orange County Rep. Loretta Sanchez remains much stronger among Latino voters, noted the Times.
“Kamala is a leader for all Californians,” De Leόn (D-Los Angeles) said in a statement released by the Harris campaign. “In this political climate that’s been defined by fear and divisive attacks, I’m proud to stand with Kamala Harris — someone who proudly fights for the best ideals of our state and our democracy.”