Feinstein Senate replacement worked to elect and defeat many of her new colleagues
The next member of the U.S. Senate from California, Democrat Laphonza Butler, worked to support and defeat many of the people who will be her colleagues while she was the head of the abortionrights group EMILY’s List.
Butler was named Sunday night to replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein, DCalif., who died Friday at the age of 90.
“She will make history — becoming the first
Black lesbian to openly serve in the U.S. Senate,” California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said in announcing Butler’s appointment. “From her time as President of EMILY’s List to leading the state’s largest labor union, she has always stood up for what is right and has led with her heart and her values. I have no doubt she will carry the baton left by Senator Feinstein, continue to break glass ceilings, and fight for all Californians in Washington.”
Butler will be the first Black woman in the Senate since fellow California Democrat Kamala Harris left the chamber to become vice president. Newsom named Democrat Alex Padilla to fill that seat, and pledged at the time to name a Black woman if he had a chance to fill another seat.
Feinstein’s term runs through January 2025. Three House Democrats, Barbara Lee, Katie Porter and Adam B. Schiff, are running in the March 5 primary for a full six-year term. The top two finishers in California primaries face each other in November.
EMILY’s List, which stands for Early Money Is Like Yeast, works to prepare and support Democratic female candidates who support abortion rights. It spent $4.4 million in the 2022 election cycle, according to opensecrets.org. The top recipient, at $537,000, was Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, of Nevada, while Sen. Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire, got $470,000. The group also raised and spent $495,000 for Cheri Beasley, who lost to North Carolina Republican Sen. Ted Budd; and $383,000 to back former Rep. Val B. Demings, of Florida, who lost a challenge to Republican Sen. Marco Rubio. An additional $3.4 million went to a super PAC, Women Vote!
The group had also begun backing candidates for 2024, announcing in March a group of 18 House incumbents whose races are expected to be crucial for determining control of the chamber.
Butler’s background includes working as a senior adviser to Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign and 20 years in the labor movement, including serving as president of the homecare workers union in California, SEIU Local 2015.