California’s governor chose a labor leader turned power player to serve in the Senate,. Reportedly there are no conditions concerning whether she will run in 2024.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom will appoint EMILY’s List President Laphonza Butler to fill the seat of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, elevating the head of a fundraising juggernaut that works to elect Democratic women who support abortion rights, according to a person familiar with the decision.and just as a perilously split Congress narrowly averted a government shutdown. Senate Democrats are in need of every vote in the closely divided chamber.
The people who spoke with POLITICO ahead of the announcement were granted anonymity to disclose internal deliberations. Butler is registered to vote in Maryland but will switch her registration to California.to the seat. Several potential nominees said publicly they were not interested. Some others privately expressed trepidation about accepting a short-term appointment and then having to immediately gear up for what would be a five-month campaign.
Butler, who is based in Washington and maintains close ties with Los Angeles, had a stint as director for public policy and campaigns at Airbnb and spent nearly two decades as a powerful and well-respected labor leader with the Service Employees International Union. As president of SEIU California, she worked closely with then-Gov. Jerry Brown on policies like hiking the minimum wage to $15 per hour and raising taxes for wealthy Californians.
Newsom has said he neither expected, nor wanted, to make the latest appointment. But for months, he and his top advisers had discussed the prospect of having to do so as Feinstein fell ill and reports about her condition.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Gov. Gavin Newsom chooses Laphonza Butler to fill Dianne Feinstein's Senate seatButler is the head of the group EMILY's List, which works to elect Democratic women.
Read more »
California Gov. Gavin Newsom to name former Kamala Harris advisor to Feinstein Senate seatCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom names Laphonza Butler, a former adviser to Kamala Harris' 2020 presidential campaign, to fill Sen. Dianne Feinstein's seat.
Read more »
Gavin Newsom to Appoint Laphonza Butler to Fill Dianne Feinstein’s Senate SeatButler, previously a labor leader in California, is currently president of Emily’s List.
Read more »
Gavin Newsom has picked Laphonza Butler to fill Dianne Feinstein's Senate seatThe death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein left an open seat in the Senate for California.
Read more »
Calif. Gov. Newsom plans to name Emily’s List leader to fill Feinstein’s Senate seatThree other Democrats from the House are vying to permanently fill Feinstein’s seat in November 2024.
Read more »