"Black Lawmakers Laud Laphonza Butler as Feinstein's Successor Amid Controversy"

Black lawmakers are praising Laphonza Butler, the first openly gay Black female senator, but are also trying to maintain support for California Rep. Barbara Lee without pitting the two against each other. Butler's appointment has sparked a crowded field of candidates seeking to succeed the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, including Lee, Adam Schiff, and Katie Porter. While the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has sent a letter endorsing Lee, they also welcomed Butler as their 59th member. The CBC emphasizes that Butler's appointment is a historic moment and highlights the importance of having Black women in positions of power.