Newsom out of touch with Senate pick

After the death of long-serving U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Gavin Newsom picked a replacement to serve until the next election. His choice of Laphonza Butler — president of the Emily's List political action committee, which helps elect women abortionrights supporters to Congress — hasn't been as well received as the governor had expected.

It was a poor choice for a variety of reasons.

Butler isn't even a resident of California. She had previously lived here, but only changed her voting registration over the weekend. “I applaud Governor Newsom for recognizing there are now so many Californians who have moved to other states that they deserve their own senator,” said U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, in a snarky post on X.

Perhaps wisely, Newsom said he didn't want to interfere in the Democratic primary by choosing one of the announced candidates. News reports focused on the Butler “makes history” storyline given that she is the only Black woman now serving in the Senate and California's first LGBQT senator. Demographic box-checking is a fixation of the elite liberal class, but it's off-putting to everyone else. Identity-politics box-checking is not the reason her choice is so problematic.

The appointment is also Newsom's latest kowtow to Big Labor. As noted by the Freedom Foundation, Butler previously served as president of SEIU 2015, which represents long-term care workers. Her tenure was filled with controversy. Members of other unions complained they were quietly shifted to the newly formed union. Workers who had opted out of membership complained that Butler's union began deducting dues without their consent. So much for caring about working people.

There are further questions about her judgment.

After Los Angeles City Councilman Mark RidleyThomas was found guilty of seven felonies including bribery and fraud from his time as a county supervisor, Butler wrote a letter to the judge calling for leniency based, in part, on his support for union workers. OK, so we can count on Butler to take brave stances in support of corrupt politicians. That's really inspiring.

It's also revealing that Newsom thinks so little of the role of U.S. senator that he decided the best pick was a political fundraiser without any relevant governing experience. A Senate seat, in Newsom's mind, is apparently just something one gives away as a gift to powerful political fundraisers.

It's a not a surprise that Newsom would pick a progressive like Butler, even though it's a disappointment given that Feinstein was known for her willingness to work across the aisle. Still, it would have been nice had he picked someone who actually lives in California — and who has a less-controversial record.