Capitol Weekly Podcast

On the Campaign Trail with Kevin Liao

Episode Summary

We're joined today by Kevin Liao of Frontrunner Strategies. Liao spent over four years as Press Secretary and Communications Director for former Speaker Anthony Rendon, before moving on to national campaign work. He was on first Elizabeth Warren and then Joe Biden's 2020 campaign teams, and handled comms for Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz as she barnstormed the Midwest for the Harris-Walz ticket in 2024. He shares stories from the road - and tells what advice he'd give any other California politicians who might be seeking the White House. Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

Episode Notes

We're joined today by Kevin Liao of Frontrunner Strategies. Liao spent over four years as Press Secretary and Communications Director for former Speaker Anthony Rendon, before moving on to national campaign work. He was on first Elizabeth Warren and then Joe Biden's 2020 campaign teams, and handled comms for Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz as she barnstormed the Midwest for the Harris-Walz ticket in 2024. He shares stories from the road - and tells what advice he'd give any other California politicians who might be seeking the White House. Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

30: Kounalakis: Out!

2:17 Experts Expound

3:23 Lobbying numbers

8:00 Kevin Liao

12:43 Rendon's campaign for SUPI

13:22 On the trail with Harris/Walz

18:03 "The Capitol Community isn't the same..."

19:31 Scrapple, butter sculptures and Tomato Pies

25:30 Advice for Gov. Newsom?

27:01 "Inconceivably nasty"

31:55 A conundrum: Democratic ideas are popular, but not when associated with Democrats

33:26 #WWCA

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