California’s Governor Appointed Laphonza Butler, A Former Kamala Harris Adviser, To Feinstein’s Former Senate Seat

On Sunday, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced his selection of Laphonza Butler, a Democratic strategist and former adviser to Kamala Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign, to assume the vacant U.S. Senate seat previously held by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein. Newsom’s choice fulfills his commitment to appoint a Black woman to the position if Feinstein’s seat became available. Nonetheless, he faced pressure from certain Black politicians and advocacy groups to nominate Representative Barbara Lee, a prominent Black congresswoman who is already running for the seat. Butler will become the sole Black woman in the U.S. Senate and also the first openly LGBTQ+ individual to represent California in the chamber.

Newsom said in a statement that the priorities Feinstein fought for in Congress — reproductive freedom, equal protection and safety from gun violence — were under assault in the nation. “Laphonza will carry the baton left by Sen. Feinstein (and) continue to break glass ceilings and fight for all Californians in Washington D.C.,” he said.

Butler currently leads Emily’s List, a political organization advocating for Democratic women candidates who support abortion rights. She also has a background as a former labor leader with SEIU 2015, a significant player in California politics.

Her appointment introduces a potentially complex political dynamic into the already crowded 2024 race to succeed Feinstein, which has been in progress since the beginning of the year.

According to Anthony York, a spokesperson for Newsom, the governor did not request that Butler make a commitment to abstain from entering the race. The deadline for candidates to file their paperwork to run for the office is December 8th. If Butler decides to enter the race, it could create a contest within the relatively small yet influential group of Black voters in California, and potentially pose a challenge to Lee’s prospects.

Emily’s List is recognized as a formidable fundraising entity, and amassing significant campaign funds is crucial in any statewide California election. Newsom’s announcement indicated that Butler will step down from her position within the organization.

Newsom’s decision carries the potential for political consequences, as he is regarded as a possible future national candidate. Since 1992, the candidate preferred by Black voters has secured the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in each election cycle. Notably, the Congressional Black Caucus and other Black politicians had urged Newsom to appoint Barbara Lee, considering her the most qualified candidate for the position.

The late Senator Feinstein, who served for a long time, passed away last Thursday at the age of 90 after a series of illnesses.

As per her Emily’s List biography, Butler currently resides in Maryland. However, Izzy Gardon, a spokesperson for Newsom, stated that Butler owns a home in California. It is expected that she will re-register to vote in California before being sworn in, which could happen as early as Tuesday evening when the Senate resumes its session.

At the moment, Butler has not responded to an email seeking comment nor issued a statement.

Democrats currently hold a slim Senate majority of 51-49, but with Feinstein’s seat vacant, a swift appointment by Newsom would provide the Democratic caucus with more flexibility in close votes, especially for nominations that face unanimous Republican opposition.

Feinstein, the most senior member of Congress and the longest-serving woman in the Senate, announced in February that she would not seek re-election in 2024. Barbara Lee is among the prominent Democrats vying for the seat, alongside Democratic U.S. Representatives Katie Porter and Adam Schiff. Newsom’s decision not to appoint any of these candidates is rooted in his desire to prevent them from gaining an unfair advantage in the race.

Despite not having held elected office, Butler has a substantial history in California politics. She served as a senior adviser to Kamala Harris’s 2020 presidential campaign while working at a political firm with connections to strategists who have worked for Newsom and other prominent state Democrats. She also had a brief stint in the private sector, working for Airbnb.

In a statement following Feinstein’s passing, Butler referred to her as a “legendary figure for women in politics and around the country.”

Emily’s List, the organization Butler leads, concentrates on supporting Democratic women who advocate for abortion rights. Given the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in 2022 to overturn women’s constitutional right to abortion, this issue has become a rallying point for many Democrats.

Equality California, the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the nation, expressed that this appointment “will provide our LGBTQ+ community with another representative in Congress at a time when our rights and freedoms are under threat across the country.”

This isn’t Newsom’s first time selecting a U.S. senator; he previously had to choose a replacement for Kamala Harris when she became Vice President. At that time, he appointed California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to the position. These appointments in late 2020 and early 2021 granted Newsom significant influence among the state’s ambitious Democrats, giving him a “kingmaker” status.

The Senate seat is expected to remain in Democratic hands in the 2024 election. Democrats have not lost a statewide election in the liberal-leaning state of California since 2006, and they hold a voter registration advantage over Republicans of nearly 2-to-1.

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