When KTLA’s John Fenoglio boarded a flight to Chicago to contribute to coverage of this week’s Democratic National Convention, you could imagine his surprise when he realized he was seated near someone pretty familiar to him.
Fenoglio says he was sitting “pretty much next to” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on the way to the DNC, and was even able to snag an interview with the “excited” mayor.
“I am very excited,” she told Fenoglio while seated on the plane. “I’m so excited to be a part of history.”
The history that Bass refers to is the official nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris for as Democratic candidate in November’s presidential election. Harris will become just the second woman to earn a major party’s nomination for president in the history of the United States.
“[Harris is] absolutely the next President of the United States,” Bass said.
Bass endorsed Harris on July 21, the same day that President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and offered his own endorsement to his VP.
Among speakers for the convention include Biden, former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, the latter of which Bass expressed deep excitement for.
Bass herself will speak to the crowd on Monday night. She plans on staying in Chicago only a few days, however, and likely won’t be in attendance when Harris accepts the nomination with a speech on Thursday.
“I have to hurry home,” she said. “A lot going on in L.A.”