Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced that Laphonza Butler, the president of EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest organization dedicated to electing women, will complete the late U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s term until 2024.
Butler’s selection derives from Newsom’s vow to appoint a Black woman to the interim position, as there are currently no women of African descent in the Senate.
The governor faced criticism for the promise, with U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, who is running for a full term in the seat, claiming it was “insulting” to the “countless” Black women if the interim senator were appointed just to “simply check a box.”
However, Lee has expressed her support for Butler since the announcement was made.
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.
— Barbara Lee (@BarbaraLeeForCA) October 2, 2023
While Butler’s appointment will diversify the U.S. Senate, it is a temporary solution to the lack of inclusion in the chamber of Congress. Butler will serve until the next general election in November 2024, at which point a special election will determine who will complete the term until January 2025.
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Under California law, a special primary and general election must take place to fill a vacant Senate seat during the period between the nearest statewide general election following the vacancy and the commencement of the subsequent congressional term.
As the president of EMILY’s List, Butler is well-acquainted with the challenges of getting a Black woman elected to the predominantly white-male Senate. She also served as a senior adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris, who was formerly the sole female senator of African descent and represented California as…
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