Kamala Harris Jumps Into California Senate Race

California Attorney General Kamala Harris (D) jumped into the race for outgoing Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer’s Senate seat on Tuesday.

A day earlier news broke that Harris planned to announce her candidacy and Tuesday morning her campaign website went live.

“I want to be a voice for Californians on these issues and others that impact our state in the U.S. Senate. I will be a fighter for the next generation on the critical issues facing our country,” Harris’s announcement on the website said. “I will be a fighter for middle class families who are feeling the pinch of stagnant wages and diminishing opportunity. I will be a fighter for our children who deserve a world-class education, and for students burdened by predatory lenders and skyrocketing tuition. And I will fight relentlessly to protect our coast, our immigrant communities and our seniors.”

Harris had been in contact with both the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and EMILY’s List in the lead-up to her move on Tuesday, according to a Democratic operative with knowledge of the talks.

Harris’s announcement means that the race for Boxer’s seat will include at least one of the more formidable prospective candidates. Other Democrats who have strongly suggested interest in running include billionaire Tom Steyer and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

On Monday Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who had also been considered a potential candidate, announced that he would not run for Senate.

“With strong candidates like Kamala Harris Democrats remain confident that we’ll hold this seat and continue Barbara Boxer’s long history of fighting for California,” DSCC Communications Director Justin Barasky said in a statement on Tuesday. “The DSCC will continue to monitor the California Senate race closely.”