Kamala Harris's leadership style is drawing scrutiny as she takes over Joe Biden's former campaign team amidst allegations of a toxic workplace.
Upon receiving Joe Biden's endorsement, Vice President Kamala Harris stepped into his former Delaware campaign headquarters with the daunting task of potentially launching a presidential bid.
The Daily Mail reported that this transition came amid a cloud of past complaints regarding her management style—complaints that have long troubled her political journey.
On a recent Monday, Harris took a decisive step in her political career by engaging directly with the staff at Biden’s Delaware headquarters.
Expressing her gratitude, she highlighted the honor she felt receiving Biden’s endorsement for her race. "It is my great honor to have Joe's endorsement in this race," Harris stated, underscoring the weight of the moment.
However, an analysis by the non-partisan watchdog Open The Books painted a less-than-ideal picture of Harris's team dynamics.
It revealed a startling 92 percent turnover rate, indicating persistent issues within her camp. Only four of the initial 71 staffers remained, pointing to deep-rooted challenges in her leadership approach.
This wasn't a new issue. Back during her tenure as California's Attorney General in the 2010s, Harris was reputed to manage a 'toxic' workplace.
The high turnover trend continued as she entered the Senate, where her office had the ninth-highest staff turnover rate among 114 senators from 2017 to 2020.
Kelly Mehlenbacher, Harris’s then State Operations Director, resigned in 2019, issuing a scathing critique of Harris's management.
"I have never seen an organization treat its staff so poorly," Mehlenbacher wrote in a resignation letter that shed light on the dismal working conditions.
Further reports in June 2021 from 22 individuals familiar with her Vice Presidential office echoed similar sentiments. They spoke of low morale, trust issues, and problematic communication—a telling sign of the difficulties lurking within her office environments.
"It's not a place where people feel supported but a place where people feel treated like s***," a source disclosed, highlighting the severity of the issues.
Allegations of berating her subordinates and exhibiting aggressive behavior have also sullied Harris's reputation.
Notably, during the contentious 2018 Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh, her demeanor drew significant attention and added to the growing list of criticisms.
In response to mounting criticism about her lack of preparedness for public appearances and a tendency to blame aides for her underperformance, Harris conducted a 'mock dinner' in April 2022, intended to help her address her public speaking anxiety.
Political strategists have been critical of Harris's reliance on a seemingly unqualified inner circle.
Critics specifically highlighted her sister Maya Harris and brother-in-law Tony West, questioning their roles and influence within her political strategies.
Despite these challenges, there have been consistent, supportive voices within her team. Symone Sanders, then-press secretary for Harris, emphasized the complex nature of their tasks. "We are not making rainbows and bunnies all day," Sanders pointed out, suggesting that the intense scrutiny was partly due to the nature of their high-stakes work.
Confirming continuity within her newly inherited team, Harris announced that former Biden campaign chief Jen O'Malley Dillon and senior Biden advisor Julie Chavez Rodriguez would maintain active roles.
This decision might bring some stability to the team dynamics, offering a blend of the old and the new as Harris gears up for the challenges ahead.
In a May interview, Harris praised the importance of being surrounded by supportive and honest individuals. "It's really important to be around people who love you, who are about you, and who are going, to be honest with you," she noted, perhaps acknowledging past criticisms and signaling a hopeful pivot towards a more cohesive team dynamic.
As Harris moves forward, the blend of acknowledgment of past issues with an aspiration for better dynamics may define her future successes or failures in leadership roles.
Her history of criticism for a harsh leadership style juxtaposes with her current rhetoric of support and collaboration, presenting a complex picture for voters and allies alike.
In sum, Vice President Kamala Harris steps into a crucial role with a backdrop of both endorsement and criticism.
She faces the monumental task of reshaping perceptions and mending fences within her team, amidst challenges that come not only from her political adversaries but also from within her past and present staff circles.