Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif, announced on Sunday, Oct. 1, the appointment of Laphonza Butler, D-Calif, to the U.S. Senate. Butler will fill the vacant seat following the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif, on Friday, Sept. 29.
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Butler will be the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the Senate and the second Black woman to represent California following Vice President Kamala Harris. Butler will step down as President of EMILYs List, a political action group focused on getting women elected.
Butler has been advocating for women in politics for years and served as Vice President Harris’ senior advisor in her 2020 presidential campaign. Butler also led Hillary Clinton’s bid for Secretary of State in 2009
“An advocate for women and girls, a second-generation fighter for working people, and a trusted adviser to Vice President Harris, Laphonza Butler represents the best of California, and she’ll represent us proudly in the United States Senate,” Gov. Newsom said in a statement. “As we mourn the enormous loss of Senator Feinstein, the very freedoms she fought for — reproductive freedom, equal protection, and safety from gun violence — have never been under greater assault. Laphonza will carry the baton left by Senator Feinstein, continue to break glass ceilings, and fight for all Californians in Washington D.C.”
Newsom announced he would appoint a Black woman should a Senate seat open. Newsom’s election of Butler comes as he received mounting pressure to appoint Congresswoman Barbara Lee, D-Calif, who has already announced she is running for Feinstein’s seat.
Newsom said he would make an interim appointment not to tip the balance of the 2024 race for Feinstein’s seat. The deadline for candidates to submit paperwork to enter the race is Dec. 8.
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM HAS ANNOUNCED HIS CHOICE TO FILL THE SENATE SEAT OF LATE DEMOCRATIC SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN – THE LONGEST-SERVING FEMALE SENATOR IN U.S. HISTORY – WHO PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK AT THE AGE OF 90.
THE GOVERNOR HAS CHOSEN LAPHONZA BUTLER — THE PRESIDENT OF EMILY’S LIST – A COMMITTEE THAT WORKS TO ELECT DEMOCRATIC WOMEN — AND A FORMER ADVISER TO VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS.
NEWSOM ISSUED A STATEMENT LATE SUNDAY NIGHT – AFTER NEWS OF THE APPOINTMENT BROKE – SAYING BUTLER “REPRESENTS THE BEST OF CALIFORNIA AND…WILL CARRY THE BATON LEFT BY SENATOR FEINSTEIN, CONTINUE TO BREAK GLASS CEILINGS, AND FIGHT FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS IN WASHINGTON D.C.”
THE GOVERNOR HAS PREVIOUSLY SAID THAT HE WOULD FILL ANY SENATE VACANCY WITH A BLACK WOMAN. BUTLER WOULD BECOME THE THIRD BLACK WOMAN TO SERVE IN THE SENATE’S HISTORY.
NEWSOM SAID THE CHOICE IS AN INTERIM APPOINTMENT AND HE WOULD NOT SELECT ANY OF THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE RUNNING TO SUCCEED FEINSTEIN IN 2024. THEY INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA LEE, ADAM SCHIFF AND KATIE PORTER.
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