HARRIS’ HILL RELATIONS ADJUSTMENT CHICAGO — During then-Sen. Kamala Harris’ early years in the Senate, one California House member recalled that she wasn't exactly the go-to person when they needed help from the upper chamber. “Sometimes all it takes is to return a phone call,” this House Democrat told us, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal dynamics. This Democrat compared Harris to her successor, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif), who they said generally texts back. “He picks up the phone, you can work with him on stuff.” Any perception of her as hands-off on the Hill has changed dramatically, however, and not just because she picked former House member and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as a running mate. Even before Harris took over the presidential ticket, she had been shoring up ties to House members and stacking her team with former House staffers from different corners of the party — though Harris allies argue she has always prioritized relationships in the House. Those allies pointed to her active mentorship of several House lawmakers like Reps. Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas). They also cited her campaigning for House Democrats in swing districts in the 2022 midterms while she was vice president, as well as conversations with both leading and rank-and-file lawmakers on the Biden administration's legislative priorities. “She built relationships. And I think those are really paying off,” said Garcia, who has supported Harris since her California attorney general campaign. Garcia had personally witnessed some of her efforts to reach out to lawmakers, joining a dinner hosted at the Vice President’s office early in Harris’ tenure for all the first-term Democratic members of Congress — part of a series of meetings and events she held with different congressional blocs. Harris’ team is also stacked with House veterans. That includes Andy Flick, Harris’ director of legislative affairs, who was previously the executive director of the centrist New Democrat Coalition. (He’s dropped by many House events at the convention this week, including last night’s New Democrats bash at City Winery, where even D.C.-famous influencer Tony P. stopped by.) Equipped with seemingly every House Democrats’ phone number, Flick was a key reason Harris locked up support from an avalanche of House members early in her run. Flick (who took over for Grisella Martinez, a former Ruben Gallego chief) works alongside another House veteran, Kana Smith, who came from the offices of Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) and former Rep. Kai Kahele (D-Hawaii). Even Harris’ non-House folks are making an effort to schmooze with members at the convention this week. Maya Aga, a political manager for the Harris-Walz campaign, stopped by a Congressional Progressive Caucus event on Tuesday, where she tweeted she was “fangirling” over CPC Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). And then, of course, there’s Walz, who has appeared at breakfast events, fundraisers and other strategy sessions this week. One person put it this way: “Walz seems like he's everywhere.” Harris’ intentional effort to engage with the House comes after a sometimes-rocky relationship between the White House and the lower chamber. Members had often grumbled at how Biden’s administration didn’t always clue the House in on the legislative process and frequently favored the Senate. Now, there’s hope that 2025 will be different. Her number of congressional allies is likely to grow, too. Lateefah Simon, a Harris protege, is all but assured to win a Bay Area-seat to succeed outgoing Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.). And if Angela Alsobrooks prevails in the Maryland Senate race, she’ll bring years of friendship with Harris to the table. — Sarah Ferris and Nicholas Wu GOOD EVENING! Welcome to Inside Congress, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Wednesday, Aug. 21, where we mourn the late Rep. Bill Pascrell, who was always great to the Hill press corps. DEMS TACKLE IMMIGRATION ON 3RD CONVENTION NIGHT Several speakers, including Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), plan to discuss immigration and border security during their convention speeches Wednesday night — taking the issue head on as Harris’ campaign is still working to combat GOP attack lines on the border. Murphy, who was Senate Democrats’ lead negotiator on the bipartisan border deal that collapsed earlier this year, plans to relitigate how Donald Trump’s opposition to the deal killed its chances of passing on the floor, even after months of negotiating with Republican Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), according to a person familiar with Murphy’s remarks. Murphy also plans to hype Harris’ history working on issues like drug smuggling and human trafficking as an attorney general, among other points, in a clear attempt to boost the perception that the Democratic nominee can be tough on border issues. Aguilar, who is the highest ranking Latino in Congress, plans to contrast the difference between Trump and Harris on border security, as well as lay out Harris’ support for pathways to citizenship for Dreamers, one person familiar told us. And while Suozzi plans to also discuss immigration, details of his speech were still being finalized, per a person familiar. — Ursula Perano and Daniella Diaz DNC SPOTTED SWAG A cornerstone of any good convention is the swag and the costumes. We’re rounding up some of the most interesting swag we’ve spotted at the DNC this week:
— Nicholas Wu
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