In a bold and unexpected move, former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown publicly called for President Joe Biden to step down and allow Vice President Kamala Harris to become president immediately.
This statement comes as the Democratic Party attempts to improve Harris's image and boost her popularity before the 2024 election.
The Daily Mail reported that Willie Brown, aged 90, held a news conference on Sunday to make his case for Biden to step aside. Brown summoned local reporters to gather outside John's Grill, just days after President Biden's surprise decision to suspend his campaign.
At the news conference, Brown argued that Harris's chances of success would improve if Biden made her president immediately. He stated, "[Harris's] chances go up if [Biden] would at this moment say not only am I no longer the candidate, I'm no longer the president — she is,"
Brown praised Harris for her outstanding performance in her various roles throughout her career. In 2020, he had advised Harris to reject Biden's offer to be his running mate, calling it a "dead end."
Brown and Harris dated in the 1990s when Harris was an emerging star in the Alameda County District Attorney's Office and Brown was the speaker of the state Assembly. Despite being legally married to Blanche Vitero, Brown and Vitero had separated, and Brown was known for his flashy lifestyle.
Harris distanced herself from the relationship by labeling it "an albatross hanging around my neck" in a 2003 interview.
In a 2019 opinion piece, Brown confirmed their past romantic relationship and admitted helping Harris in her first race for district attorney, which she went on to win in 2003. As DA, Harris introduced a controversial anti-truancy program, which led to the arrest of Cheree Peoples in 2013 due to her daughter's school attendance issues stemming from a genetic condition.
Recently, there has been a concerted effort within the Democratic Party to rehabilitate Harris's image. In April, actress Drew Barrymore praised Harris, describing her as "Momala" and suggesting that Harris should be a maternal figure for the country.
Harris currently has a favorability rating of 39 percent, similar to Biden's rating. Her career has faced numerous allegations of hypocrisy and dishonesty, but she has managed to evolve her views to become more socially liberal over the years.
For example, Harris’s stance on marijuana has shifted from prosecuting people for violations to advocating against jail time for smoking it.
During a 2019 Democratic primary debate, Harris criticized Biden for his past collaboration with segregationist senators and his opposition to federal busing. This reportedly caused tension between her and First Lady Jill Biden, who allegedly holds a grudge against Harris.
Harris was tasked with addressing the root causes of migration in March 2021 but faced criticism for admitting in an NBC interview that she had never visited the southern border. Under the Biden-Harris administration, approximately 10 million migrants have crossed the Mexico-US border.
Additionally, thirteen staffers resigned from Harris's office between 2021 and 2022 amid claims that she was an office "bully." Harris is also criticized for her confusing public statements, often referred to as "word salad," such as her remarks on community banks and her mother's advice on existing within a context.
Willie Brown's recent call for President Biden to step down represents an effort to bolster Kamala Harris's position ahead of the 2024 election.
Despite facing numerous controversies and challenges throughout her career, Harris has garnered praise from certain public figures and is subject to ongoing efforts within the Democratic Party to revamp her image. As the election approaches, it remains to be seen how these efforts will impact her favorability and political future.
