Kamala Harris shakes up Senate campaign staff
California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris speaks during a general session of the California Democratic Party’s State Convention in January.
Democratic Senate candidate Kamala Harris on Tuesday replaced her top political advisor, parting ways with campaign manager Rory Steele and replacing him with Juan Rodriguez.
The change comes after the Harris campaign’s spending came under scrutiny. Harris, California’s attorney general, had spent more than 40% of the $5.9 million in contributions she has raised through September. That far exceeds the spending rate of her top Democratic rival, Rep. Loretta Sanchez of Santa Ana.
Along with changing campaign managers, Harris is now on her third fundraiser for the campaign.
Harris spokesman Nathan Click said the decision to replace Steele with Rodriguez, who already was working as a senior advisor for Harris’ Senate bid, was part of the routine ebb and flow of a campaign.
“Like every campaign, we’re making adjustments in alignment with our strategy to win,” Click said. “Kamala Harris has proven herself to be one of the strongest fundraisers in the country this election cycle, and our campaign is going to have the resources to win in June and November.”
The campaign also has decided to reduce the number of political consultants it uses, Click added.
Harris reported having $3.3 million in the bank as of the end of September, compared with Sanchez, who had $1.6 million. The top three Republican candidates have less than $200,000 combined, according to campaign finance filings.
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