Kamala Harris has reportedly held confidential meetings at the White House with those she saw as emerging talent within the Democratic Party, aiming to help advance their political careers. According to the Washington Free Beacon, among those Harris personally supported was Representative Jasmine Crockett of Texas, known for her controversial statements including mocking Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s disability, criticizing Florida Representative Byron Donalds’s interracial marriage, and attacking the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk on the day of his memorial service.
Harris describes this initiative, dubbed the “Stars Project,” in her memoir 107 Days, which reflects on her unsuccessful presidential campaign. As Vice President, Harris regularly convened with senior aides to strategize about identifying and supporting young Democratic leaders.
Harris would invite promising politicians to the White House or her private residence to discuss their future ambitions. “I think you’re very talented. What are you working on, and how can I help you?” Harris reportedly said to those she met, including Crockett, Representative Lauren Underwood, Lateefah Simon, Maxwell Frost, and Robert Garcia.
Crockett, speaking at the Democratic National Convention last year, recalled her meeting with Harris, though she did not frame it as a recruitment effort. She shared that Harris told her, “You are exactly where God wants you. Your district chose you because they believe in you, and so do I.” Following this encounter, Crockett went viral multiple times for her outspoken critiques of Republicans, which she credits as the moment she gained momentum in her legislative career.
Critics have called out Harris’s mentorship of Crockett, highlighting it alongside other controversial Democrats like Representative Ilhan Omar and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani as emblematic faces of the party.
In just three years in Congress, Crockett has developed a record of provocative remarks. She recently labeled Charlie Kirk a racist and criticized the low number of caucasian members of Congress opposing a resolution honoring him. Earlier this year, Crockett mockingly called Governor Abbott “Governor Hot Wheels” and disparaged members of the Trump administration as “mediocre white boys.”
According to the Free Beacon, “In June 2024, she attacked Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds, a black man, over his marriage to a white woman. ‘I feel like they give him his talking points and he’s like ‘Yes, massa [sic]. I got it,’ Crockett said of Donalds.”
Harris’s support for Crockett feeds into longstanding criticism from Democrats about Harris’s political judgment, which some blame for her loss to President Donald Trump last year. Harris faced criticism for choosing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate in 2020, passing over popular figures like Pete Buttigieg and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. In 107 Days, Harris admits she avoided picking Buttigieg due to concerns that voters might struggle with a ticket featuring both a Black woman and a gay man.
Harris revealed she sought input on her vice-presidential selection from numerous sources, including her 17-year-old godson, Alexander Hudlin. She recounted calling him for advice, and he expressed support for Walz with a simple, “Auntie, I like him.”
