Jerry Brown Endorses Kamala Harris for U.S. Senate

California Governor Jerry Brown announced his official endorsement of the state’s Attorney General, Kamala Harris, for U.S. Senate on Monday over U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA).

Brown lauded Harris for her work in the position of the state’s Attorney General, “She’s strong. She’s intelligent. She knows what she’s doing.”

“Kamala’s done a great job and as her client I know what a hell of a lawyer she is,” said Brown from the stairs of California’s state Democratic Party headquarters. “The experience of bringing environmental lawsuits, bringing lawsuits against corporate malfeasance and banks, gives you that broad spectrum of experience very much needed in serving the whole criminal office the Attorney General is in charge of.”

Brown promoted Harris’ experience as Attorney General as “a very clear pathway to Washington.” He reminded the crowd that he is very familiar with her current position as his father former Gov. Pat Brown served in the position, as did he, and that is “usually a stepping stone to the governorship.”

Current Lieutenant Gov. Gavin Newsom is running in 2018 to take over from Brown as Governor.

Ahead of the announcement, California Democratic Party Chief Financial Officer Angie Tate reminded the audience that the Democratic Party of California endorsed Harris at its convention in February. Harris won 78 percent of the delegate vote there.

Harris expressed her thanks and lobbed praise back on Brown’s performance as governor of California.

The California Democratic Party posted video of Brown’s endorsement to its Facebook page. Reactions were mixed. Amidst debate over Bernie Sanders versus Hillary Clinton for President were several responses voicing support for Harris’ primary election opponent Rep. Sanchez. “I’ll be voting for Sanchez, not the official party candidate,” wrote social media user Carlos O. Calderon. The comments displayed a sense of the establishment-versus-outsider struggle that has permeated the 2016 primary election season.

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Tom Del Beccaro responded to the endorsement in a statement to Breitbart News: “Brown’s endorsement represents a closing of the tanks for establishment democrats and offers Californians no relief from the bad water and tax policies plaguing them.  It’s time for a change.”

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