California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has chosen Laphonza Butler, the President of EMILY’s List – a pro-abortion organization, to fill the vacancy left by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein. This move is expected to raise Butler’s profile significantly, given her advocacy for pro-abortion Democrat women.
Governor Newsom’s swift decision to select the next senator comes just two days after Senator Feinstein’s passing and as a narrowly divided Congress just avoided a government shutdown. In the closely divided Senate, each vote holds paramount importance for Senate Democrats.
The formal announcement of this appointment will be made Monday. Anthony York, an advisor to the governor, informed POLITICO that Newsom’s appointment comes without any stipulations or conditions concerning the 2024 election. Consequently, Butler has the opportunity to enter the competitive field of Democratic candidates vying to succeed Feinstein. This election landscape now includes special elections, the March primary, and the November runoff.
Newsom’s selection of Laphonza Butler for this position carries significant implications within California’s political sphere, occurring in the wake of Senator Feinstein’s passing. Of note, Butler is presently a registered voter in Maryland, but she reportedly intends to change her registration to California.
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Approved ~ MJM
