Two days after the passing of Dianne Feinstein, California governor Gavin Newsom appointed Laphonza Butler, the head of EMILY’s List, a pro-abortion fundraising outfit, to serve out the remainder of the late-senator’s term.
“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,” Newsom said in an official statement. “Laphonza will carry the baton left by Senator Feinstein, continue to break glass ceilings, and fight for all Californians in Washington D.C.”
Butler, a former aide to Vice-President Kamala Harris, previously served as a director of public policy for Airbnb and spent nearly twenty years at the helm of the Service Employees International Union. On Friday, Butler mourned Feinstein’s passing on X.
“I’m saddened to hear of the passing of Sen. @DianneFeinstein. Not only was she a titan in the Senate, but a legendary figure for women in politics and around the country. Her legacy and achievements will not be forgotten. My prayers are with her family. She will be deeply missed.”
Newsom had pledged to nominate a black woman if the opportunity arose to replace the ailing Feinstein. “I have multiple names in mind. We have multiple names in mind — and the answer is yes,” the governor told MSNBC anchor Joy Reid in March 2021. The governor stuck by his comments during an interview this September on Meet the Press, which drew the condemnation of Representative Barbara Lee (D., Calif.), a candidate who had already announced her intention to challenge for Feinstein’s seat in 2024.
“The perspective of Black women in the U.S. Senate is sorely needed — and needed for more than a few months. Governor Newsom knows this, which is why he made the pledge in the first place,” Lee responded to Newsom in a statement following his appearance.
“If the Governor intends to keep his promise and appoint a Black woman to the Senate, the people of California deserve the best possible person for that job. Not a token appointment.” On Sunday, Congressional Black Caucus chair Steven Horsford (D., Nev.) encouraged Newsom to appoint Lee to fill the Senate posting.
Butler is expected to be sworn in on Wednesday by Vice-President Kamala Harris. It’s unclear whether she will enter the 2024 race to keep the Senate seat.