Cory Booker, Raúl Grijalva, Jared Huffman, Catherine Cortez Masto and Alex Padilla. Photos: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images, Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images and Zoe Cranfill/L.A. Times via Getty Images
Kamala Harris has forged relationships with several mostly progressive Democrats who can vouch for her commitment to environmental justice and cleaner energy, Daniel writes.
Why it matters: These lawmaker surrogates will help make her case to green voters.
Cory Booker: The New Jersey senator served with Harris during her two years in the Senate and cosponsored legislation such as the Environmental Justice for All Act that Harris introduced in 2020.
- Booker interviewed Harris at a League of Conservation Voters event in March, touting their shared commitment to environmental justice and her record on advancing climate policies and their intersection with democracy.
Jared Huffman: He advised Harris when she ran for California attorney general and has "developed a close political and policy alliance ever since," the Northern California congressman told Axios.
- "Her background and her perspective would suggest a very forward-leaning posture on decarbonization, innovation and environmental justice," Huffman said. "As a Californian, she has direct personal experience with wildfires and extreme weather and the impacts to real people."
Catherine Cortez Masto: The Nevada senator helped Harris' vet VP candidates last month, and Axios reported that she is rumored to be in the running for attorney general.
- They met while serving as state attorneys general and "took on the big banks during the 2008 mortgage crisis," Cortez Masto said last week.
Alex Padilla: He succeeded Harris in the Senate when she became vice president and has remained aligned with her on climate issues.
- He has introduced and supported bills that would improve FEMA response to wildfires and increase federal investment in environmental projects at the Salton Sea.
Raul Grijalva: House Natural Resources' top Democrat is the architect of the Environmental Justice for All Act's House companion.
