As an influential politico in her right, Laphonza Butler has an impressive track record that has led her to becoming part of Vice President Kamala Harris’ inner circle.
Butler’s journey to this politically weighty role began in the labor movement. She understood early on the power of collaborative action through her upbringing in the Kroger Union in Mississippi, where her mother was an employee. After completing her studies at the University of Southern Mississippi, Butler decisively directed her career towards bringing change and advocating for worker’s rights. She took on the role of the Provisional Executive Officer of the SEIU (Service Employees International Union) Local 2015 in California.
Local 2015 has been instrumental in promoting a progressive agenda, championing minimum wage laws, healthcare rights, and immigration reforms. Under Butler’s leadership, it became a powerhouse in California politics. Butler guided more than 375,000 workers to strive for their rights, proving her strength in unifying action and amplifying voices that frequently go unheard. Her efforts expanded the influence of SEIU across the state, which Biden would later acknowledge as the most extensive union in California.
Her tenure at SEIU also marked an important phase in her relationship with Kamala Harris — then California’s Attorney General — whose work closely aligned with Butler’s mission. A mutual commitment to justice and equality forged a bond between them, which would go on to play a significant role in Harris’s political future.
Butler extended her reach further by co-founding the labor-community coalition ‘Fair Workweek LA’. Its objective of promoting stable working hours for service employees in Los Angeles shows Butler’s ongoing dedication to worker’s rights.
In 2016, Butler joined Kamala Harris’s Senate campaign as a senior adviser. Their dynamic partnership benefitted from Butler’s extensive political network and her ability to concisely articulate Harris’s proposals. This role positioned her perfectly as a pertinent part of Harris’ inner circle.
Interestingly, Butler brought together a coalition of early influential endorsers to support Harris’s primary bid for California’s Senate seat. Their backing provided a significant boost to Harris’s campaign, underscoring Butler’s strategic acumen and extensive political network.
Butler’s path crossed with Harris’s once more during the latter’s stump speeches for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. As co-chair of the Biden campaign’s California steering committee, Butler once again flexed her networking skills and political prowess.
Fuelled by Butler’s robust campaigning, Biden won California by a landslide. This victory, in turn, led to Butler’s consideration for Harris’s Senate position. However, rather than continuing in a more visible political role, Butler opted to join Harris’s team in West Wing as the director of operations for the vice president.
To this day, Butler’s journey continues to inspire many, serving as a testament to the power of collective action, empathy, and vision. It is clear that Laphonza Butler’s influence on both local and national platforms is significant. From her early contributions to the labor movement to her vital position in the vice president’s office, she has remained a committed advocate for worker’s rights and social justice. Her journey serves as a blueprint for those looking to make a tangible impact in the political arena.