By admin 
Former Vice President Kamala Harris made a brief appearance Friday afternoon in Sacramento, rallying support for former state Sen. Richard Pan and bashing his opponent Rep. Kevin Kiley.
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The nine-minute remarks, given at Pan’s campaign headquarters in North Natomas, focused largely on the 6th Congressional District race between Kiley and Pan. Harris criticized Kiley for his vote on last year’s H.R. 1, a sweeping federal bill that included cuts to safety net programs across the nation, and his recent rebranding as an independent. Kiley, I-Rocklin, registered as “no party preference” in March after a long history with the Republican Party.
“His opponent, who is trying to hide behind being an independent now,” Harris told a crowd of roughly 100 people. “Because he’s running from—he’s trying to disguise himself, because he already outed himself in terms of where he stands, and now he’s trying to pull one over everyone’s eyes.”
In response to Harris’ appearance, Kiley criticized Pan for “rolling out the red carpet” for national political figures at “closed-door fundraisers.”
“I’m taking a different approach, meeting voters every day and hearing what they want to see in their representative,” Kiley said in a written statement.
Neither Harris nor Pan were made available for questions. After their brief remarks, the two headed to a fundraising event closed to the media.
Harris had already endorsed Pan in August, calling him a “fighter” who had spent his career ensuring Californian children live safer and healthier lives. On Friday, she again praised Pan’s experience and work on healthcare.
Pan, a pediatrician, made national headlines while in the Legislature for leading California’s efforts to enact strict school vaccine laws.
“I was attorney general,” Harris said. “I saw firsthand what he did. … He’s done the work, so the people of Sacramento actually have a choice.”
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Harris’ public appearance for Pan comes as some Democrats in Republican-leaning states have distanced themselves from her in recent months.
In August, Alaska U.S. Senate candidate and former Rep. Mary Peltola rejected a fundraising email Harris sent on her behalf. Prominent Democratic candidates in Iowa, Wisconsin and Kansas have also stated a preference for Harris to steer clear of their races.
“No thanks,” Iowa gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand told Politico last month. “Let’s move on. We need some new leadership.”
Under its redrawn boundaries from Proposition 50, the 6th District is considered a safe blue seat. The five Democratic candidates combined to receive 55.7% of the vote in the June primary, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office.
Kiley has emphasized his independent identity in an effort to attract voters who have unfavorable views of both major political parties. A record-high 45% of U.S. adults identified as political independents, according to a Gallup poll earlier this year.
In her remarks, Harris called the 6th District race “tight” and one of the most critical seats for the U.S. House. California Democrats have targeted this district as one of the five seats they hope to flip this November.
“This seat is so important for the people of Sacramento and it’s so important for people around the country,” Harris said.
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