California starts dreaming of Meghan the politician
Democrats delighted by speculation that the Duchess of Sussex, is eyeing US politics. “She’s definitely got her toe in the water’”
When it emerged that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had met Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, privately before the US election, it prompted surprise and wild speculation that Meghan wanted to be considered for a vacant Senate seat if Kamala Harris became US vice-president.
But many California Democrats were not surprised; they were delighted.
“I think it’s fantastic,” said Mike Trujillo, a prominent Democratic strategist. In his view, the duchess was following a “well-worn path”, adopted by Arnold Schwarzenegger ahead of his foray into politics.
“She’s doing everything that’s appropriate and allowed given her new position but she’s definitely putting her toe in the water,” he said. “And once your toe is in the water your whole foot is in and next thing you know your are knee-deep and then you are fully in.”
Since their arrival in Santa Barbara last northern summer, the couple have started a foundation devoted to causes such as more equal provision of mental health services and “racial and economic justice in the tech sector”.
Their first podcast on Spotify featured Stacey Abrams, the politician and activist whose years of organising work in Georgia are widely credited with helping Joe Biden and the Democrats win the state for the first time since 1992.
Mr Trujillo felt that the duchess, the former Meghan Markle and still a US citizen, was leading these forays. “Everything she’s doing is similar to what other folks have done before they run for office,” he said.
“Arnold Schwarzenegger, before he ran for governor, had a big after-school foundation that promoted opening after-school clubs, that was called Arnold’s All Stars. He used that as a vehicle to talk about the need for tutoring and after-school care. Really easy stuff. That’s what introduced him to politics.”
He thought the couple’s advocacy of mental health and their foundation could provide a similar launchpad.
Another Democrat strategist, Roger Salazar, who worked in the Clinton administration, said the state has a long history of being open, politically, to newcomers.
“California is one of those states that welcomes fresh perspectives,” he said. “It wouldn’t surprise me to see Prince Harry getting more involved.”
Others are more sceptical. One well-informed source said: “I don’t really think she has political ambitions now. But her ego knows no bounds, so maybe she is keeping the door open. But she cannot right now, because they are very focused on making money. Running for public office and making a fortune don’t go together.”
A source close to the Sussexes said the meeting with Mr Newsom was “nothing political – it was more social than anything. It was with the Governor and his wife.”
With her court case against The Mail on Sunday over earlier than expected, Meghan is now free to concentrate on the future. Harry, on the other hand, has another issue to deal with: tax.
The rules say that if someone is in the US for an average of 120 days a year for two years they are liable for US tax: Harry and Meghan are believed to have spent at least 240 days in the US in 2020.
However, David Lesperance, a tax lawyer, said the Internal Revenue Service was being “generous” to people who claim that they have been trapped in the country because of COVID.
“I think it’s a pretty strong argument,” he said. “They are going to be fairly flexible, not because of who he is but because of the circumstances.”
The Times
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