Harris’s ill-fated endorsement of Alabama state representative Barbara Drummond comes amid other questions about her political instincts
The Democratic candidate for mayor in Mobile, Ala., whom former vice president Kamala Harris touted as a “star” during an MSNBC appearance this week, lost her mayoral race to her Republican challenger just one day after Harris’s praise.
Barbara Drummond (D.), an Alabama state representative, lost a runoff to former Mobile County, Ala., judge Spiro Cheriogotis by 2 points on Tuesday. That comes after Drummond won a four-person race by 6 points last month. Since then, Drummond picked up high-profile endorsements from Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.) and former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, both of whom endorsed the candidate earlier this month.
Her biggest endorsement came Monday, when Harris touted the 69-year-old candidate during an appearance on MSNBC host Rachel Maddow’s show to promote her memoir, 107 Days.
“There are people like Barbara Drummond in Mobile, Alabama, Helena Moreno in New Orleans. They’re all running for mayor too, and they are stars,” said Harris, who gave the endorsements after being asked whether she supports New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (D.).
“Sure,” Harris said in a tepid endorsement of the anti-Israel Democrat.
Drummond, who has served in the Alabama house since 2014, touted Harris’s remarks on her campaign social media pages.
“So grateful to Vice President Kamala Harris for her kind words about this campaign,” Drummond posted Monday. “Being called ‘a star in our party’ is an honor — but what means the most is the opportunity to serve the people of Mobile.”
Cheriogotis beat Drummond by 2 points, roughly the same margin of victory President Donald Trump had over Harris last year.
Harris’s ill-fated endorsement comes amid other questions about her political instincts. Harris has faced scrutiny for selecting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D.) as her running mate last year, bypassing Buttigieg and Josh Shapiro (D.), the governor of swing-state Pennsylvania.
Harris wrote in 107 Days she consulted her 17-year-old godson about who he preferred for vice president.
“He was for Walz,” wrote Harris. “Auntie, I like him,” her godson said.
Harris also dubbed Rep. Jasmine Crockett, the controversial Texas Democrat, a “rising star” of the party in her memoir. According to the book, Harris hosted Crockett at the White House as part of a “secret” project to groom future Democratic party leaders.
“I think you’re very talented,” Harris said. “What are you working on, and how can I help you?”
While Crockett is popular with the Democratic base, party leaders see her as a political liability because of inflammatory remarks they fear will turn off moderates.
Crockett complained on CNN this weekend only “two Caucasians” in the House voted against a resolution to honor Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist assassinated in Utah earlier this month. Crockett has mocked Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as “Governor Hot Wheels,” making fun of the Republican’s use of a wheelchair. She has attacked Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds (R.), who is black, over his marriage to a white woman.
