New advertisement includes Kamala Harris criticizing landlords, although she did not endorse the ad.

SACRAMENTO, California — Advocates seeking to regulate housing rental prices in California are calling on voters to “stand with Kamala Harris” and support their initiative.

However, there’s a catch: Harris has not actually endorsed the ballot measure.

A newly released ad by the Yes on Proposition 33 campaign, which has been posted on YouTube and is set to air on television next week, marks the latest chapter in a long-standing struggle over affordable housing in the Democratic nominee's home state. It highlights how Harris’ rise has brought a significant California issue into the national conversation, allowing local political groups to leverage her prominence.

Los Angeles political provocateur Michael Weinstein, along with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation he leads, is spearheading support for Prop 33. This marks his third effort to pass a statewide rent control measure, intended to grant local governments the authority to establish rules regarding housing prices. Additionally, Weinstein is facing opposition from Proposition 34, a measure crafted by adversaries aimed at countering his foundation's financial influence and political power.

In the ad, Harris’ voice accompanies images of everyday people and clips of her on the campaign trail, with captions indicating that she and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation are “fighting back.” The ad borrows language from a speech Harris delivered in Atlanta last month in which she vowed to “take on corporate landlords and cap unfair rent increases.”

The original version of the advertisement was removed on Thursday, shortly after PMG's inquiries, approximately half a day after it was released. The campaign claimed it was posted by mistake.

Subsequently, the campaign released what it claimed was the final version of the ad, which included a disclaimer at the end: “Use of Kamala Harris’ likeness and words does not imply endorsement.”

Weinstein, in an interview, asserted that the ad simply reaffirms Harris’ support for specific housing policies.

“We're not trying to say in any way, shape or form, that Kamala Harris has endorsed [Prop] 33,” Weinstein explained. “What we're saying very clearly is Kamala Harris believes in rent caps.”

This is not the first occasion the campaign has featured Harris in their promotions. Supporters of Prop 33 previously highlighted Harris’ comments on rent caps following her Atlanta rally, posting on X that “VP Kamala Harris supports rent control!”

“Here in her home state, voters have a golden opportunity to expand rent control by voting Yes on 33 this November,” the campaign stated.

A spokesperson for the Harris campaign clarified: “The Harris campaign did not authorize use of footage for this advertisement.”

By Thursday afternoon, the No on Prop 33 campaign, led by the California Apartment Association, was distributing a letter to television stations alleging that the Yes campaign was spreading false information by implying that Harris endorsed the measure.

“Exactly the kind of bald-faced lie — and subsequent clumsy cover up — you would expect from a campaign spearheaded by Donald Trump’s former chief of staff,” said Nathan Click, spokesperson for the No campaign.

Last month, the Prop 33 campaign engaged Actum, a consulting firm co-founded by former Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez and co-chaired by Mick Mulvaney, who served as acting chief of staff under Trump. Weinstein has previously dismissed similar criticism regarding connections to Trump by highlighting the campaign’s endorsements from various Democratic leaders, including Bernie Sanders and the California Democratic Party.

Housing issues in California, always a critical topic, have gained broader attention with Harris at the forefront of the ticket. YIMBY — or “yes in my backyard” — advocates praised the VP during the Democratic National Convention for pledging to “end America’s housing shortage.”

However, they were less enthusiastic about seeing some of her campaign statements featured in the 30-second ad supporting Prop 33, which they view as a potential threat to some of California’s essential housing legislation. Laura Foote, executive director of the Bay Area organization YIMBY Action, contended that the measure would inhibit housing development, which Harris has described as vital to lowering costs.

“Kamala has been pretty clear that we need to build at least 3 million new homes. This policy would not help us accomplish that goal,” she remarked regarding Prop 33. “Obviously the ad is misleading.”

Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News