WASHINGTON — Sen. Kamala Harris has hired a seasoned California political strategist to run her campaign in the Golden State, which will be a delegate-rich battleground in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.

Courtni Pugh will serve as Harris’ California director, leading campaign efforts in the senator’s home state. Harris is the first 2020 presidential candidate to publicly name a director in California.

Pugh worked most recently as a strategist at Hilltop Public Solutions, heading up the political firm’s California operations. She was a consultant on former state Sen. Kevin de León’s unsuccessful campaign last year to unseat Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

She also worked on John Chiang’s unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in 2018 and was the deputy state director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, when the former secretary of state won the California primary. She is a longtime labor leader in the state, having spent several years with the Service Employees International Union.

Harris has already locked in staffers in each of the four early primary and caucus states: Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. Moving to hire talent in California next is a reflection of the increased importance of the state’s primary. With the state Legislature’s decision to shift California’s presidential primary elections from June to March, the contest for the state’s 400-plus delegates could be pivotal in building momentum for an eventual Democratic nominee.

“Courtni knows California like the back of her hand,” said Harris campaign spokesman Ian Sams. “She is the perfect person to lead our efforts to win this critical early primary state, and she brings unique perspective and experience to help convey Sen. Harris’ message of raising incomes for working families and restoring truth and justice in America.”

Pugh called Harris “the inspiring leader” needed in a “time of great division and fear.”

As the only major Democratic candidate thus far from California, Harris has been moving to shore up her standing in the state. She has already rolled out a number of high-profile endorsements from state Democrats, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and Oakland Rep. Barbara Lee.

Other Democratic candidates, though, have also been building strength in California. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker hired Newsom’s campaign manager, Addisu Demissie, to run his national campaign. Demissie also managed Booker’s first Senate campaign.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., also campaigned heavily in the state in 2016, and Fremont Rep. Ro Khanna will be one of his national campaign co-chairs.

Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicle’s Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan