Stephen A's Take: America, Kamala Harris is not done yet! Can you say California Governor? - The Stephen A. Smith Show

Summary

The Stephen A. Smith Show – Episode Summary Title: Stephen A's Take: America, Kamala Harris is not done yet! Can you say California Governor? Release Date: February 16, 2025

1. Introduction to Political Landscape [01:01 - 06:14]

The episode delves into the current political climate, focusing on Kamala Harris's potential political trajectory in California and beyond. The host, Stephen A. Smith, alongside a Political Analyst, examines recent polling data and Harris's standing within the Democratic Party.

Key Points:

Kamala Harris's Polling Lead: A recent Emerson College poll commissioned by Nextstar Media reveals Kamala Harris leading the California gubernatorial race with 57% support among registered Democrats, far surpassing the next contender, Katie Porter, who garnered only 9% (01:01).
Harris's Political Resume: Harris's extensive background is highlighted, including her tenure as U.S. Senator (2017-2021), California Attorney General (six years), and Vice President of the United States. Stephen emphasizes her qualifications, stating, “She’s a graduate, got a law degree... That’s a pretty impressive resume.” (03:45).
2024 Presidential Election Analysis: The discussion covers the recent presidential election where Donald Trump secured 49.8% of the vote compared to Harris's 48.3%. Despite the narrow margin, Trump achieved the highest cumulative popular votes in U.S. history, surpassing even Barack Obama through multiple campaigns (05:10).

2. Critique of Democratic Strategies and Voter Sentiment [06:14 - 14:23]

Stephen A. Smith and the Political Analyst critique the Democratic Party's approach post-2024 elections, arguing that the party failed to resonate with the broader American electorate.

Key Points:

Democratic Disconnect: Stephen asserts, “I think the Democrats are tone deaf and they're missing it. Donald Trump didn’t get 50% of the vote. He got like 49.8%...” (04:50). He contends that Democrats are not aligning their policies with what the American people truly desire, citing issues like inflation, immigration, and national security.
Voter Priorities: Emphasis is placed on the American public’s frustration with identity politics, cancel culture, and economic concerns. Stephen remarks, “They’re sick and tired of the bullshit that we’ve been hearing. Identity politics woke culture. Cancel culture...” (08:16).
Missed Opportunities: The analysts argue that Democrats missed critical opportunities to connect with voters by focusing on partisan issues rather than pressing national concerns. Stephen criticizes the party’s handling of events like the George Floyd protests, stating, “Did you really think that was going to curry favor? All it did was highlight how divided we had become...” (12:13).

3. Recommendations for Kamala Harris's Political Future [14:23 - 17:16]

The conversation shifts to strategic recommendations for Kamala Harris, suggesting a focus on gubernatorial leadership in California as a stepping stone for future presidential ambitions.

Key Points:

Run for Governor: Both Stephen and the Political Analyst advocate for Harris to pursue the California governor's seat in 2026. They believe this role would provide her with an opportunity to address state-specific challenges and rebuild her political standing. Stephen advises, “Let me say this. I would advise that because when you just lost the presidential election by more than 2 million votes, that can’t be ignored.” (05:25).
Advantages of Governorship: Winning the governorship is portrayed as a near-certain victory given her current polling lead. Stephen emphasizes, “If Kamala Harris runs for the governor of California, she'll win. And if you know that that's as close to a surefire thing that you could get, why bypass that.” (15:52).
Path to Presidency: Successfully governing California, one of the nation’s largest economies, could position Harris favorably for a presidential run in 2032. The analysts outline this as a strategic move to demonstrate effective leadership and policy implementation on a significant scale.
Addressing State Challenges: The discussion highlights the numerous issues California faces, including high taxes, environmental policies, immigration, and economic stagnation. By tackling these, Harris could reshape her political image and appeal to a broader electorate. Stephen questions, “How do you explain the taxes the highest in the union? How do you explain the price of gas in California?” (14:05).

4. Conclusion and Final Thoughts [17:16 - 18:02]

The episode wraps up with a strong endorsement for Kamala Harris to seize the gubernatorial opportunity, emphasizing its importance for her political future and the Democratic Party's prospects.

Key Points:

Final Endorsement: Stephen concludes, “That ain't risky. The poll showed it. And Gavin Newsom can’t go.” (17:04), reinforcing the viability of Harris’s gubernatorial campaign.
Future Outlook: The analysts express optimism that a successful tenure as governor could lead to Harris becoming a prominent candidate for the U.S. presidency, provided she leverages her experience and addresses the critical issues facing California.

Notable Quotes with Attribution:

Stephen A. Smith (03:45): “She’s a graduate, got a law degree. She’s a former district attorney in San Francisco... That’s a pretty impressive resume.”
Stephen A. Smith (08:16): “They’re sick and tired of the bullshit that we’ve been hearing. Identity politics woke culture. Cancel culture...”
Stephen A. Smith (15:52): “If Kamala Harris runs for the governor of California, she'll win. And if you know that that's as close to a surefire thing that you could get, why bypass that.”
Political Analyst (06:14): “The Democrats are tone deaf and they're missing it. Donald Trump didn’t get 50% of the vote. He got like 49.8%...”
Political Analyst (17:04): “Kamala Harris, if you're gonna do anything, don't think about the presidency in 2028. Think about the governor's seat of California in 2026 and use that to position yourself to become the next president United States in 2032.”

Summary:
In this episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, the focus is on Kamala Harris's potential run for Governor of California as a strategic move for her political future and the Democratic Party's recovery from recent electoral setbacks. Stephen A. Smith and the Political Analyst discuss Harris's strong polling lead, critique the Democratic Party's failure to connect with voters on key issues, and recommend leveraging a gubernatorial victory in California as a foundation for a future presidential bid. The conversation underscores the importance of addressing state-specific challenges to rebuild trust and effectiveness within the party.

Transcript

Discover Card Representative (0:00)

Are you still quoting 30 year old movies? Have you said cool beans in the past 90 days? Do you think Discover isn't widely accepted? If this sounds like you, you're stuck in the past. Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. And every time you make a purchase with your card, you automatically earn cash back. Welcome to the now it pays to Discover. Learn more@discover.com credit card Based on the February 2024 Nielsen report, Geico's motorcycle expertise.

Geico Representative (0:30)

Means I'm covered by people who know bikes like I do. I'm happy as a clam. No conclusive scientific research has shown clams can experience happiness. It just meant that I feel really.

Geico Representative (0:39)

Good about my coverage.

Geico Representative (0:40)

I mean, even if you took the clam out for the best day ever, visiting the zoo, taking a scenic ride, knowing you're insured by specialists, and sharing a strawberry ice cream cone together, the clam would not feel happy and your strawberry cone would taste sort of clammy. Geico's motorcycle specialists who know bikes like you do assume no liability for clammy ice cream cones. Geico expertise for your motorcyc.

Political Analyst (1:01)

We're going to get started with some politics, okay? And some political news. Some headlines emanating from the state of California. That's where former Vice president and presidential nominee Kamala Harris holds a substantial lead in the polls to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom. Now, Harris has been relatively quiet since losing the presidential race in November, and she hasn't indicated if she even wants to run for governor in her home state. However, this recent Emerson College poll commissioned by nextstar Media asked registered Democrats in California who they would theoretically support in 2026, and the overwhelming majority, at 57%, named Harris. The next closest candidate was former Representative Katie Porter at 9%. You may recall that Kamala Harris is no stranger to California politics, as she represented the state in the US Senate from 2017 to 2021, and she served as California's Attorney General for the six years prior to that. So one would stand the reason that you know what, she could end up running for governor of California. Let me say this. I would advise that. I would advise that because when you just lost the president presidential election by more than 2 million votes, that can't be ignored. It just can't be ignored. Now, this woman's resume, I don't like the way that I hear folks on the right talking about it. I mean, you won. Do you have to be sore winners? You know, they rip her at every turn, they question her intelligence. I don't appreciate that. You know, she's a graduate, got a law degree. She's a former district attorney in San Francisco, where she served for seven years. She's former state attorney general in California for six years, obviously. She was a US senator from California for four years from 2017 to 2021, as I articulated. And she's the Vice President of the United States. That's a pretty impressive resume. Okay. Did she lose to Donald Trump? Yes, she did. Do I think that the Democrats are making a mistake when they act like there's not this mandate in this Trump mandate that that's completely overblown? I think the Democrats are tone deaf and they're missing it. Donald Trump didn't get 50% of the vote. He got like 49.8% of the vote, if I remember correctly. A matter of fact, I need to look that up again because I want to make sure that my numbers are right about that. But my point to y'all is that when I'm thinking about this, that's not the argument for the Democrats to be making. People are getting tired of that. You know, you lost, period. And just for specifics, just to make sure that we have this out there, I got the stats right in front of me. Trump won 77,284,118 votes, which amounted to 49.8% of the votes cast for president. That was the second highest vote total in U.S. history, trailing only Joe Biden, who won in 2020, receiving 81,284,666 votes. As I said back then, it wasn't voted for Biden. It was voting against Trump. At that particular moment in time, there was chaos in the streets of America. People didn't like the noise, the chaos, the lack of struct and discipline and what have you. And they went in a different direction. Nevertheless, Trump won 3,059,799 more popular votes in 2024 in this latest presidential election than he had won in 2020, and 14,299,293 more than he had won in 2016. So he now, meaning Donald Trump, now holds the record for the most cumulative popular votes won by any presidential candidate in US History, even surp Barack Obama, although Trump ran three times and Obama only ran twice. So we got to take that into consideration. Kamala Harris, for her part, 74,999,166 votes, which amounted to 48.3% of the votes cast. So she lost the popular vote 49.8% to 48.3%. Okay, so she won by 1.5% of the votes. That was 6 million 285, 500 fewer popular votes than Biden won in 2020, but 774,847 more than Trump won in 2020. Remember, 156 million people voted in 2024. That's the second largest total voter turnout in U.S. history in absolute terms. It also is just the second time that more than 140 million people voted in a presidential election. So there are the facts. And having said that, getting back to Kamala Harris, let's be very, very clear. I don't think she should run for president in 2028. Let me. Let me say it like it is. The reason why is because I think the run to the gubernatorial seat, the governor's seat in California is a. Is a given. I think if Kamala Harris runs for the governor of California, she'll win. And if you know that that's as close to a surefire thing that you could get, why bypass that.

Summary

The Stephen A. Smith Show – Episode Summary Title: Stephen A's Take: America, Kamala Harris is not done yet! Can you say California Governor? Release Date: February 16, 2025

1. Introduction to Political Landscape [01:01 - 06:14]

Key Points:

Kamala Harris's Polling Lead: A recent Emerson College poll commissioned by Nextstar Media reveals Kamala Harris leading the California gubernatorial race with 57% support among registered Democrats, far surpassing the next contender, Katie Porter, who garnered only 9% (01:01).
Harris's Political Resume: Harris's extensive background is highlighted, including her tenure as U.S. Senator (2017-2021), California Attorney General (six years), and Vice President of the United States. Stephen emphasizes her qualifications, stating, “She’s a graduate, got a law degree... That’s a pretty impressive resume.” (03:45).
2024 Presidential Election Analysis: The discussion covers the recent presidential election where Donald Trump secured 49.8% of the vote compared to Harris's 48.3%. Despite the narrow margin, Trump achieved the highest cumulative popular votes in U.S. history, surpassing even Barack Obama through multiple campaigns (05:10).

2. Critique of Democratic Strategies and Voter Sentiment [06:14 - 14:23]

Stephen A. Smith and the Political Analyst critique the Democratic Party's approach post-2024 elections, arguing that the party failed to resonate with the broader American electorate.

Key Points:

Democratic Disconnect: Stephen asserts, “I think the Democrats are tone deaf and they're missing it. Donald Trump didn’t get 50% of the vote. He got like 49.8%...” (04:50). He contends that Democrats are not aligning their policies with what the American people truly desire, citing issues like inflation, immigration, and national security.
Voter Priorities: Emphasis is placed on the American public’s frustration with identity politics, cancel culture, and economic concerns. Stephen remarks, “They’re sick and tired of the bullshit that we’ve been hearing. Identity politics woke culture. Cancel culture...” (08:16).
Missed Opportunities: The analysts argue that Democrats missed critical opportunities to connect with voters by focusing on partisan issues rather than pressing national concerns. Stephen criticizes the party’s handling of events like the George Floyd protests, stating, “Did you really think that was going to curry favor? All it did was highlight how divided we had become...” (12:13).

3. Recommendations for Kamala Harris's Political Future [14:23 - 17:16]

The conversation shifts to strategic recommendations for Kamala Harris, suggesting a focus on gubernatorial leadership in California as a stepping stone for future presidential ambitions.

Key Points:

Run for Governor: Both Stephen and the Political Analyst advocate for Harris to pursue the California governor's seat in 2026. They believe this role would provide her with an opportunity to address state-specific challenges and rebuild her political standing. Stephen advises, “Let me say this. I would advise that because when you just lost the presidential election by more than 2 million votes, that can’t be ignored.” (05:25).
Advantages of Governorship: Winning the governorship is portrayed as a near-certain victory given her current polling lead. Stephen emphasizes, “If Kamala Harris runs for the governor of California, she'll win. And if you know that that's as close to a surefire thing that you could get, why bypass that.” (15:52).
Path to Presidency: Successfully governing California, one of the nation’s largest economies, could position Harris favorably for a presidential run in 2032. The analysts outline this as a strategic move to demonstrate effective leadership and policy implementation on a significant scale.
Addressing State Challenges: The discussion highlights the numerous issues California faces, including high taxes, environmental policies, immigration, and economic stagnation. By tackling these, Harris could reshape her political image and appeal to a broader electorate. Stephen questions, “How do you explain the taxes the highest in the union? How do you explain the price of gas in California?” (14:05).

4. Conclusion and Final Thoughts [17:16 - 18:02]

The episode wraps up with a strong endorsement for Kamala Harris to seize the gubernatorial opportunity, emphasizing its importance for her political future and the Democratic Party's prospects.

Key Points:

Final Endorsement: Stephen concludes, “That ain't risky. The poll showed it. And Gavin Newsom can’t go.” (17:04), reinforcing the viability of Harris’s gubernatorial campaign.
Future Outlook: The analysts express optimism that a successful tenure as governor could lead to Harris becoming a prominent candidate for the U.S. presidency, provided she leverages her experience and addresses the critical issues facing California.

Notable Quotes with Attribution:

Stephen A. Smith (03:45): “She’s a graduate, got a law degree. She’s a former district attorney in San Francisco... That’s a pretty impressive resume.”
Stephen A. Smith (08:16): “They’re sick and tired of the bullshit that we’ve been hearing. Identity politics woke culture. Cancel culture...”
Stephen A. Smith (15:52): “If Kamala Harris runs for the governor of California, she'll win. And if you know that that's as close to a surefire thing that you could get, why bypass that.”
Political Analyst (06:14): “The Democrats are tone deaf and they're missing it. Donald Trump didn’t get 50% of the vote. He got like 49.8%...”
Political Analyst (17:04): “Kamala Harris, if you're gonna do anything, don't think about the presidency in 2028. Think about the governor's seat of California in 2026 and use that to position yourself to become the next president United States in 2032.”