Governor Newsom selects Laphonza Butler to replace Feinstein in Senate
California Governor Gavin Newsom has officially announced his choice to fill the vacant Senate seat left by the passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein. Multiple sources have confirmed that Laphonza Butler will be appointed to this position, as reported by CBS News.
Butler is currently the president of EMILY’s List, an organization dedicated to electing Democratic women who advocate for abortion rights. In 2021, Butler made history as the first woman of color to lead Emily’s List. Prior to her role at the organization, she served as a senior campaign advisor to Kamala Harris during her presidential campaign in 2020. Additionally, Butler has an extensive background as a labor leader and previously held the position of director of public policy at Airbnb. At this time, Butler has not provided a comment on her appointment.
Feinstein, who was 90 years old at the time of her passing last week, had approximately 15 months remaining in her term. By swiftly appointing Butler, Governor Newsom aims to secure the Democrats’ slim majority in the Senate. This is especially crucial as Congress continues to address ongoing government funding issues following a last-minute agreement that temporarily prevented a shutdown over the weekend.
Butler’s appointment was initially reported by Politico. In a recent appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Governor Newsom confirmed his commitment to appointing a Black woman to Feinstein’s seat. However, he expressed his hope that such a decision would not need to be made. Governor Newsom also emphasized that he would not select one of the Democrats currently running in the 2024 election to succeed Feinstein, as it would be unfair to those candidates who have worked diligently.
It is worth noting that there is no requirement for this appointment to be temporary, meaning that Butler could run for a full term in 2024. However, the situation is further complicated by the upcoming Democratic Senate primary next year and the expected special election for Californian voters to determine who will complete the remaining months of Feinstein’s term. Representatives Barbara Lee, Adam Schiff, and Katie Porter are among the candidates who have entered the 2024 race since Feinstein announced she would not seek reelection. It remains unclear whether any of them, including Butler, will also participate in the anticipated special election.
In response to the news, Representative Barbara Lee commented on X (formerly Twitter): “I wish @LaphonzaB well and look forward to working closely with her to deliver for the Golden State. I am singularly focused on winning my campaign for Senate. CA deserves an experienced Senator who will deliver on progressive priorities. That’s exactly what I’m running to do.” Representatives Adam Schiff and Katie Porter have not yet provided a response.
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