Laphonza Butler Declines Senate Run in 2024

Laphonza Butler, the newly appointed California Democratic Senator, has announced that she will not run for a full term in 2024, avoiding a costly and challenging race. Butler's decision comes after considering her personal aspirations and the kind of service she wants to offer. Her candidacy would have complicated an already crowded race that includes prominent Democrats and a former MLB star. Butler, a former labor leader, had never held public office before joining the Senate. Her chances of securing one of the top two spots in the primary appeared unlikely, and she would have faced financial and political hurdles on a tight timeline.