Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg praised the Democratic ticket as a cheerful and talented team headed for victory when he spoke to California delegates at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday.
“Thank you for producing the next president of the United States, Kamala Harris,” he told a few hundred delegates and guests at a breakfast. “I can’t wait for her to be sworn in and lead our country forward. She is an extraordinary leader.”
“And I also think it’s not a bad thing to balance that California dream with some of the goodness of Minnesota,” the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, said. “So on behalf of the Midwest, let me tell you how excited I am to be campaigning with Tim Walz,” he added, referring to the Minnesota governor and Harris’ running mate.
What wasn’t said was that Buttigieg, like other elected officials from outside California who addressed the state’s delegates over eggs and pastries, is an ambitious young leader who many say has his sights set on the Oval Office in the future. Both he and Harris ran unsuccessfully for president four years ago, and Buttigieg, 42, is expected to run again someday.
“I honestly don’t know,” Buttigieg said in an interview when asked about his plans. “Sometimes, there’s something right in front of you and you’re preparing for it. There are so many possibilities. I really don’t know. What I do know is that I will do everything I can to help her win.”
This dance takes place every four years at the national political conventions of both parties. While the focus is on the nominees and featured speakers, potential future occupants of the Oval Office use the gathering as an opportunity to court party leaders, donors and activists.
In 2004, during the Republican National Convention in New York City, then-Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney hosted a party for the state's first delegates on the USS Intrepid, a retired aircraft carrier. Eight years later, Romney was nominated as the party's standard-bearer.
Although California is a general election swing state in presidential contests because of its cobalt-blue lean, it has a huge pool of delegates that could help determine either party’s nominee in a competitive primary. And it’s home to so many wealthy and small-money donors that it’s often the state that provides the most money to the campaigns of candidates from both parties.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at the California delegation breakfast on Tuesday.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
So in addition to courting delegates in early primary states like Iowa for Republicans and South Carolina for Democrats, California tends to see a flurry of auditions and trial balloons from presidential hopefuls.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, speaking Tuesday, noted that he was born at Stanford Hospital and raised in the Northern California communities of Menlo Park and Atherton as he welcomed delegates in Chicago.
“I love California,” Pritzker said. “But somehow, well, you guys have sent us all over the country from California, and now [I’m] “I’m in charge of Illinois. So I’m very happy to have you here, especially to welcome you to the Land of Lincoln, who would be a Democrat if he were alive today.”
After naming several elected leaders and supporters in the state as friends, Pritzker described his family history and his decision to run for governor in the 2018 election.
“My friends thought I was a little crazy,” he said. “Let me explain why. Honestly, the Democratic Party wasn’t exactly crying out for a white, Ukrainian-American, Jewish billionaire. I get it, I really do. I get it, but I’m a Democrat through and through.”
Pritzker, a member of the family that owns the Hyatt hotel chain, noted that his family emigrated penniless while fleeing the Soviets in Ukraine. And he touted Democratic accomplishments in Illinois since he was elected, including raising the minimum wage and teachers’ pay, eliminating food taxes, canceling medical debt and lowering the cost of prescription drugs.
“These are all things we need to do at the national level,” Pritzker said.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stopped by briefly Tuesday to warm up the crowd, which was glassy-eyed after the convention that ran late into Monday and the parties that followed.
“It was a long night and an early morning, and you look great. Are you ready to go?” she said. “We’re going to have another great day here in Chicago. And I love the fact that the world is seeing a joyful, inclusive, and mostly organized convention so far, right? And I think it’s going to get better every day.”
“I’m very proud to be here with California as the governor of Michigan,” she added. “I have to tell you, we know a little bit about the work that needs to be done to win elections. The world is going to count on us to deliver for Harris, and we’re going to get it done. You’re going to give her a Congress that will work with her, right?”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro attends the California delegation breakfast on Tuesday.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro attended six state delegation breakfasts over the course of two mornings at the Democratic National Convention, noting that he and Harris had a long relationship because of their work as prosecutors and attorneys general.
“The work I do is the same as what Kamala Harris has done throughout her career, and I’ve had the privilege of knowing her for the last 20 years,” Shapiro said. “Every time she and I were in court, we were always in court for the people. Now think about the stark contrast with the other side. Donald Trump has not been for the people. He’s been for harming the people every single time he’s had a chance.”
Asked about his future prospects, Shapiro was demurring.
“I’m laser-focused every day on governing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It’s a job I love. I’m grateful to the good people of Pennsylvania for giving me this opportunity,” he told reporters. “And I think I’ve made it very clear that this is the job I want to be in and I’m going to stay in it. I’m going to stay focused on that and, politically, on making sure that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz win.”
