California Governor Appoints Laphonza Butler to Fill Senate Vacancy

California Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Laphonza Butler, a Democratic strategist and former adviser to Kamala Harris, to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat previously held by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein. Butler, who leads Emily's List and is the first openly LGBTQ+ person to represent California in the Senate, will be the only Black woman serving in the chamber. Newsom's decision has faced criticism from some Black politicians and advocacy groups who favored Rep. Barbara Lee for the position. Butler's appointment sets up a potentially competitive 2024 race to succeed Feinstein, with Butler possibly competing against Lee.