The Senate is no longer split 50/50, so the passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein will not temporarily shift the majority to Republicans. However, California Governor Gavin Newsom is now faced with the task of finding a replacement quickly. At present, there are 47 Democratic senators, along with three independents who caucus with them. As reported by Politico, the party will require every vote as the budget standoff continues. Feinstein held seats on the Senate Judiciary and Intelligence committees, and some leading Republicans have declared their intention to prevent Democrats from replacing her on the Judiciary committee, according to Insider.
On Friday, Governor Newsom released a statement praising the late 90-year-old Senator Feinstein as a “dear friend” and “lifelong mentor”. However, he did not provide a timeline for appointing a replacement. CBS News reports that, according to California law, the Democratic governor has the sole authority to choose a candidate for the vacant seat. Newsom previously vowed in 2021 that he would appoint a Black woman if Feinstein’s seat became available during his term, for any reason. However, he clarified to NBC’s Chuck Todd earlier this month that to avoid unfairness, none of the Democrats already running for the seat would be considered as caretaker. Feinstein had announced in February that she would not seek re-election next year.
Representative Barbara Lee, who is competing against candidates such as Representatives Adam Schiff and Katie Porter, criticized the idea of appointing a Black woman solely to fulfill a quota, stating that it is insulting to Black women who have consistently contributed to the success of the Democratic Party in elections. Lee pointed out that there have only been two other Black female senators in US history, including Kamala Harris, who previously held the seat as California’s junior senator before becoming vice president. Harris was also the first Black senator from west of the Mississippi. Feinstein’s replacement will be the second. One potential candidate for the replacement is California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, according to CBS. Months ago, Oprah Winfrey was mentioned as a possible replacement, but a spokesperson for her told the Los Angeles Times that she was not interested. (Read more Dianne Feinstein stories.)
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