Historic: Gov. Gavin Newsom Picks Black Lesbian Laphonza Butler to Replace Dianne Feinstein in California Senate

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.

Newsom is moving swiftly to name the next senator, two days after Feinstein’s death 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.

[...] Butler is registered to vote in Maryland but will switch her registration to California.

California’s newest Senator Laphonza Butler literally lives in Maryland and registered to vote here LAST YEAR https://t.co/0Ps00L3Nuq pic.twitter.com/YImmk48n5y

— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) October 2, 2023

Newsom faced considerable pressure around the decision after first pledging to name a Black woman to the seat. [...]

[Newsom] contemplated hiring the Southern Mississippi native to be his first chief of staff, and she was a one-time partner in the San Francisco-based consulting firm, now known as Bearstar Strategies, with his top political advisers. She has remained a confidant of Vice President Kamala Harris, after serving as a senior strategist on her 2020 presidential campaign.

She will always be a dear friend and is still an inspiration to so many of us. She ran so that others can fly! Let’s go fly with #blackgirlmagic! https://t.co/h2NAJO4fiN pic.twitter.com/LIiZZnVN1m

— Laphonza Butler (@LaphonzaB) December 14, 2019

Happy 🌈 Pride Month! I am honored to have the distinction of being the first Black lesbian woman to serve as president of EMILY’s List. I am committed to supporting our LGBTQ+ trailblazers run for office and their work to achieve justice and equality for all. pic.twitter.com/EqtHl4hjlc

— Laphonza Butler (@LaphonzaB) June 1, 2022

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. She also served on the University of California Board of Regents, to which she was appointed by Brown in 2018 before stepping down in 2021.

Butler is the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the Senate.

I'm proud to announce California's new United States Senator -- Laphonza Butler.

As we mourn the enormous loss of Sen. Feinstein, the very freedoms she fought for -- reproductive freedom, equal protection, and safety from gun violence -- have never been under greater assault.… pic.twitter.com/SOnbfVPmXj

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) October 2, 2023