I think you need to work hard to bring everybody to the table to figure out a way to help workers with health insurance, with education, even with housing.

We have a lot of jobs, but they don’t really pay enough for people to feel comfortable that they can set aside enough for their kids’ education and for their retirement, or for any health emergency.

So I hope my perspective on being a progressive who is also a pragmatist will help get things done.

Are you concerned at all about the perception, particularly in the more progressive wings of the party, of you working with large corporate clients? When you were working with Lyft, you expressed opposition to Assembly Bill 5, for instance —

I wasn’t opposed to A.B. 5. I wanted to amend it and make it more open to people like freelance writers, and drivers and other people who find themselves caught in a situation that’s very difficult for them.

I think I’ve been proven right on that point. It’s just a lot of anxiety out there. And I think there’s a terrific opportunity to move forward in a progressive way.

I don’t care what people say, because I know what I’m doing, and what I’m doing is to make life better for people. If everyone loves you, you’re not doing anything. I have a strong center.

When I voted against the war in Iraq, 80 percent of the people of California were really mad at me. But I knew it was the right thing. When I voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, people said, “Oh my god, you’re in so much trouble.” Of course, everyone loves to be loved by everybody, especially in public life. It’s not possible, if you’re doing something.