I’ve been thinking more these days about Vice President Kamala Harris, her role as vice president and the ever-present is-she-ready question.
Being second in line is something I know a little about but on a smaller scale. For eight years, I served as lieutenant governor to Gov. Bill Richardson. Another similarity we share is being the first women to serve in the offices mentioned.
In New Mexico, the lieutenant governor is elected in a primary and becomes part of the ticket. It’s somewhat like an arranged marriage with the voters deciding who should be part of the ceremony.
At the federal level, each party’s nominee for president selects their running mate through a vetting process and confirmation of convention delegates.
Constitutional responsibilities are remarkably similar. Both are first in the line of succession to be chief executive (governor or president). Both serve as president of the Senate, presiding over the body. Neither has the power to vote unless the Senate is evenly divided on a matter.
An additional role for the vice president is the responsibility of opening, counting and announcing the electoral votes in a joint session of Congress following a presidential election.
Most Americans had been unaware of this provision until Jan. 6, 2021, when President Donald Trump intervened and tried to interrupt that process. Vice President Mike Pence leaned into his constitutional duty. The Constitution held strong despite a violent assault on the Capitol that day.
Both offices, lieutenant governor and vice president, have evolved over time.
In New Mexico lieutenant governors received no salary until the term of Lt. Gov. Roberto Mondragon, who served two non successive terms.
Additionally, as time passed, the lieutenant governor became a member of the governor’s cabinet and chair of several statutory boards designated in legislation. During my time I became chair of the first Children’s Cabinet. We acted as a mini cabinet advising the governor about children’s issues and the role departments could play in improving children’s lives.
The vice president’s responsibilities also grew. In 1949 the vice president became a member of the National Security Council, thanks to President Harry Truman. Truman realized that should succession happen for any reason, vice presidents needed to be fully informed. Over time, vice presidents were included in the president’s daily intelligence briefings, and that is still the case today.
Still, the readiness and success in ascending to the top stop is partially determined by the governor or president and the role they carve out with their running mates.
Most of us, when first elected, had to grow into the position. In the case of a lieutenant governor and vice president, it also depends on establishing a trusted relationship with the top of the ticket.
Vice President Harris acknowledged early on that building her relationship with President Joe Biden was her first job. All indications are that Biden and Harris have done that with weekly lunches and her inclusion in staff meetings and briefings.
The Dobbs decision, which eliminates a woman’s right to reproductive care, created a new focus for Harris. She became the administration’s outspoken critic of the consequences of the decision. She has also been a key player on voters’ rights and a strong spokesperson for the president’s economic agenda.
At the end of 2023, Harris had cast more tie-breaking votes than any other vice president — 32 of them — including two critical economic bills: the Inflation Reduction Act and the American Rescue Plan, which helped rebuild the economy after the pandemic.
For all the current discussion of “Is she ready?” Yes. If and when the time comes. Her life experience, public service and strong values make her as ready as any of us can be to assume a job we have not held before.
Line of succession
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I’ve been thinking more these days about Vice President Kamala Harris, her role as vice president and the ever-present is-she-ready question.
Being second in line is something I know a little about but on a smaller scale. For eight years, I served as lieutenant governor to Gov. Bill Richardson. Another similarity we share is being the first women to serve in the offices mentioned.
In New Mexico, the lieutenant governor is elected in a primary and becomes part of the ticket. It’s somewhat like an arranged marriage with the voters deciding who should be part of the ceremony.
At the federal level, each party’s nominee for president selects their running mate through a vetting process and confirmation of convention delegates.
Constitutional responsibilities are remarkably similar. Both are first in the line of succession to be chief executive (governor or president). Both serve as president of the Senate, presiding over the body. Neither has the power to vote unless the Senate is evenly divided on a matter.
An additional role for the vice president is the responsibility of opening, counting and announcing the electoral votes in a joint session of Congress following a presidential election.
Most Americans had been unaware of this provision until Jan. 6, 2021, when President Donald Trump intervened and tried to interrupt that process. Vice President Mike Pence leaned into his constitutional duty. The Constitution held strong despite a violent assault on the Capitol that day.
Both offices, lieutenant governor and vice president, have evolved over time.
In New Mexico lieutenant governors received no salary until the term of Lt. Gov. Roberto Mondragon, who served two non successive terms.
Additionally, as time passed, the lieutenant governor became a member of the governor’s cabinet and chair of several statutory boards designated in legislation. During my time I became chair of the first Children’s Cabinet. We acted as a mini cabinet advising the governor about children’s issues and the role departments could play in improving children’s lives.
The vice president’s responsibilities also grew. In 1949 the vice president became a member of the National Security Council, thanks to President Harry Truman. Truman realized that should succession happen for any reason, vice presidents needed to be fully informed. Over time, vice presidents were included in the president’s daily intelligence briefings, and that is still the case today.
Still, the readiness and success in ascending to the top stop is partially determined by the governor or president and the role they carve out with their running mates.
Most of us, when first elected, had to grow into the position. In the case of a lieutenant governor and vice president, it also depends on establishing a trusted relationship with the top of the ticket.
Vice President Harris acknowledged early on that building her relationship with President Joe Biden was her first job. All indications are that Biden and Harris have done that with weekly lunches and her inclusion in staff meetings and briefings.
The Dobbs decision, which eliminates a woman’s right to reproductive care, created a new focus for Harris. She became the administration’s outspoken critic of the consequences of the decision. She has also been a key player on voters’ rights and a strong spokesperson for the president’s economic agenda.
At the end of 2023, Harris had cast more tie-breaking votes than any other vice president — 32 of them — including two critical economic bills: the Inflation Reduction Act and the American Rescue Plan, which helped rebuild the economy after the pandemic.
For all the current discussion of “Is she ready?” Yes. If and when the time comes. Her life experience, public service and strong values make her as ready as any of us can be to assume a job we have not held before.