Janice R. Andrews
There were many critical events in Kamala Harris’s rise to prominence in American politics, but none more so than a brief 47-second encounter that occurred during her 2010 campaign for California attorney general. Her political career may have been destroyed by the contest, but instead it launched her into national fame. Check out how those crucial seconds changed her professional path and enabled her to triumph despite all difficulties.
The Context: A Difficult Battle Is Ahead
Outside of California, Kamala Harris was not well-known in 2010. She had already gained notoriety as San Francisco’s district attorney at forty-five, but her candidacy for attorney general marked her first foray into a statewide role. The fact that the election occurred during the height of the Tea Party movement made things more difficult for Democrats. Harris faced out against Republican Steve Cooley, the well-liked and well-known district attorney for Los Angeles County who has a solid track record of fighting corruption and a reputation for justice.
Cooley was the clear favorite to win. In a state where Democrats predominate, Cooley, a Republican, had surprised everyone by winning three terms as the district attorney of Los Angeles, the most populous county in California. His centrist positions won him respect even in Democratic strongholds, and his efforts to expose corruption won him the support of citizens from all political persuasions. Cooley’s campaign was under tremendous strain as Election Day approached since polls consistently showed her either tied or very slightly ahead of Harris.
An Emerging Star in Peril
Harris wasn’t your typical politician. As a rising star in the Democratic Party, she was dubbed “the female Barack Obama” by some, in reference to the nation’s first Black president. However, political fame is sometimes ephemeral, and the risks were great. Her aspirations for greater office may have been easily dashed by a defeat in this election. Harris’s future depended on the outcome of the 2010 election, but time was running short and her campaign was losing money.
The Crucial Discussion: Cooley’s 47-Second Error
The event that would alter the election happened on the first Tuesday of October. At a low-key lunchtime debate at the University of California, Davis, the two contenders squared off. The location was unassuming—a practice courtroom located distant from the main media hubs. Even though the discussion wasn’t streamed live, its effects would be felt much beyond the confines of the room.
Steve Cooley was questioned over “double-dipping”—the act of receiving a public pension in addition to a public salary—as the argument went on. The question put to Cooley at the time, since he was already making close to $300,000 as the Los Angeles district attorney, was straightforward: If he won the attorney general’s race, would he receive a $150,000 annual salary as attorney general in addition to a pension from his current position?
In a direct and concise reply, Cooley stated, “Yes, I do,” without holding back. “I merited it.”
Though in politics, perception is crucial, that response may have been the truth. “I definitely earned whatever pension rights I have, and I will certainly rely upon that to supplement the very low, incredibly low salary that’s paid to the attorney general,” Cooley said, seemingly emphasizing the notion.
The Effect: An Inadvertent Mistake
The handful in attendance were astounded by the response. Harris did not even say anything, letting the moment linger. Journalists in attendance afterward characterized the event as shocking, tone deaf, and jaw-dropping. Harris had been given a rare chance by Cooley’s direct but unwelcome response, and she did not let it slip away.
Even if the debate didn’t receive much attention, Harris’ campaign realized they had hit political gold. They hurried to make use of Cooley’s mistake as a weapon. The 30-second commercial made by Harris’ team just included Cooley’s reaction. It was startlingly straightforward. The final line of the advertisement was, “$150,000 a year isn’t enough?”
It was a cruel blow intended to relate to regular Californians who were having a hard time in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. At the time, California had an average family income of little over $54,000, thus Cooley’s claim that $150,000 was a “incredibly low” pay seemed out of touch with the general public.
A Risk That Went Well
Harris’s campaign was barely getting by. The financial reserves were almost completely depleted, and insufficient funds were available to fund a statewide television advertising campaign for the last weeks before the election. However, her team took a risk by deciding to spend every last dime on advertising the advertisement in Cooley’s native Los Angeles. It was a dangerous tactic. Harris might not have had the money to launch a last-minute campaign in other regions of the state if it had failed.
However, the risk paid off. The commercial was successful, receiving a lot of airtime in Los Angeles and weakening Cooley’s base of support. Harris lacked the means to broadcast a more upbeat statement about her own goals or accomplishments, but the attention on Cooley’s remark about double-dipping changed the game. Los Angeles voters started to change, and Cooley’s lead started to decline.
The Last Mile: Federal Assistance and Republican Retaliation
National Republicans realized that Harris, a rising star in the Democratic Party, presented a threat as Election Day approached. They started a $1 million anti-her campaign with the mother of a dead police officer because they were concerned about the long-term effects of her. The advertisement painted Harris as being soft on crime and attacked her for choosing not to seek the death sentence in a case where a gang member had slain the officer.
However, Harris had President Barack Obama as a strong ally. Realizing the significance of Harris’ race, the president encouraged Democrats to back her in a high-profile visit at a Los Angeles rally. In the last days of the race, Harris’ campaign gained fresh impetus thanks to Obama’s backing and the potent attack ad against Cooley.
Election Night: A Precarious Win
The contest was too close to call when the ballots were tabulated on election night. Cooley declared early victory because he was confident in his lead. However, Harris started to narrow the lead as the evening went on and more ballots were counted, particularly from the Los Angeles region.
The confirmation of the final results took three weeks. Harris ultimately prevailed by an extremely narrow margin—roughly 75,000 votes, or 0.85% of the total. Though it was among the most tightly contested state elections in California’s history, Harris managed to pull off an upset.
A Future Safe, a Career Preserved
Harris’ career may have gone in a very different direction if those crucial 47 seconds from the debate in October had not occurred. Her prospects of making it to the national arena would have been severely hampered by a defeat in the attorney general contest. Rather, she became an even more prominent member of the Democratic Party after winning in 2010.
Harris’ career took off from there and continued to grow. She later became the first woman, Black woman, and person of South Asian origin to hold the office of vice president of the United States when she was chosen as Joe Biden’s running partner in the 2020 presidential election. She had previously won a seat in the U.S. Senate in 2016.
Kamala Harris’ political path began and ended with just 47 seconds during the 2010 attorney general debate, which serve as a reminder of how one conversation can alter the course of a political career and maybe even history.
