Kamala Harris tied the California recall to threats from GOP legislation across the country as she campaigned for Gov. Gavin Newsom in her home state of California on Wednesday.
'You have to understand that this recall campaign is about California, and it's about a whole lot more,' the vice president told a crowd in her native Bay Area, pointing to a recent Texas abortion law and recent voting restrictions in Georgia.
'They're thinking that if they can get this done in California … they got to understand what's happening right now,' she said.
'What's happening in Texas, what's happening in Georgia, what's happening around our country with these policies that are attacking women's rights, reproductive rights and voting rights, workers' rights -- they think if they can win in California, they can do this anywhere.'
The vice president said she'd seen clips of Abbott talking about the new Texas abortion bill that bans the procedure after 6 weeks of pregnancy.
Abbott said Tuesday that he would 'work tirelessly to eliminate all rape from the streets of Texas' after the bill did not make abortion exceptions for rape or incest.
'To speak those words—that were empty words—that were false words that were fueled with not only arrogance but bravado … That is not who we want in our leaders. We want in our leaders someone like Gavin Newsom, who always speaks the truth,' Harris said.
'We are here today to say we fight for Gavin Newsom. We fight for our country. We fight for the values we hold dear. We fight for working people. We fight for organized labor. We fight for Dreamers. We fight for women. We fight for voting rights,' she said.
Newsom, too, sought to capitalize off the Texas law, decrying in his own address 'what's happening to those women in Texas.'
'Larry Elder’s running away with it guys,' Newsom said, arguing that his most formidable opponent was celebrating the abortion restriction.
'We are here today to say we fight for Gavin Newsom. We fight for our country. We fight for the values we hold dear. We fight for working people. We fight for organized labor. We fight for Dreamers. We fight for women. We fight for voting rights,' Harris concluded in her support for the California governor.
Harris and Newsom, before either held elected office, had overlapping roles in San Francisco and Sacramento. They have also both been supportive of each others' campaigns.
The two were sworn in on the same day in January 2004 when Newsom became San Francisco's youngest mayor in more than a century and Harris made history as California's first Black district attorney.
Now, as Harris rose to the vice presidency, her ally is facing a recall election in the state where she got her start in politics.
Vice President Kamala Harris departs Washington, D.C. for California on Wednesday as she backs Governor Gavin Newsom in his recall election
Harris will only be in her native Bay Area for the day as she urges Californians not to boot Newsom from office in the recall election
Newsom is facing a recall after a petition garnered enough signatures for a special election to potentially get him out of the State House before the end of his term. There are several dozen candidates vying to replace him
On the special election ballot is a question asking if California voters want to recall Newsom – meaning remove him from his governorship. The second question asked if he were removed, who Californians would want him replaced with.
Minnesotan George Howard, 48, has been charged with murder weeks after he was released on domestic abuse charges by Harris-backed Minnesota Freedom Fund
Harris, however, is facing her own criticism after she back a bail fund for an alleged domestic abuser in Minneapolis who has now been charged with murder.
George Howard, 48, was bailed out by the Minnesota Freedom Fund (MFF) on August 6 after being held on a $11,500 bail on charges of domestic abuse.
Weeks later, Howard was charged with murder when he shot another driver on I-94 during a road rage incident on August 29. The victim has been identified as 38-year-old Luis Damian Martinez Ortiz who was pronounced dead after he was shot in the chest by Howard.
MFF's work, which helped free Howard, was promoted by Harris during her campaign last year.
'If you're able to, chip in now to the @MNFreedomFund to help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota,' Harris tweeted.
There are a whopping 46 candidates vying to take Newsom's spot as governor of the most populous U.S. state, including nine Democrats, 24 Republicans and several third party or 'no party preference' candidates.
Biden will travel to California early next week before the special election poll close Tuesday
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (right) hugs Newsom at an event in Culver City on Saturday
Some of those with the most media attention and polling stats so far are Democrat YouTuber Kevin Paffrath and Republicans John Cox, a 2018 gubernatorial candidate; radio host Larry Elder; former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer; California State Board of Equalization member Ted Gaines; former Olympian and television personality Caitlyn Jenner; and Assemblyman Kevin Kiley.
But surveys also show that Newsom will likely survive the recall, even if by a small margin.
Harris will campaign for Newsom as President Joe Biden prepares to head to California early next week to also urge voters to keep him in the State House.
Other lawmakers have also helped nationalize the race with Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, both 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, rallied for the governor.
Senator Bernie Sanders also was featured prominently in pro-Newsom ad.
After serving as California's attorney general from 2011-2017, Harris served as a U.S. senator for the state for one term before she was selected as Biden's vice presidential candidate following her unsuccessful bid to become the Democratic nominee to take on Donald Trump.
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