Butler won’t run to retain Feinstein’s Calif. Senate seat
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Labor leader and prominent Democratic activist Laphonza Butler, who was appointed to fill Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s term after the veteran politician died, announced Thursday that she would not run for a full Senate term in 2024.
Despite her successful career steeped in politics, Ms. Butler had never held public office and appeared to be relatively unknown to most voters in the state. If Ms. Butler had run, she would have faced the monumental challenge of quickly raising the millions of dollars necessary to run a successful campaign in a state as vast as California.
“Knowing you can win a campaign doesn’t always mean you should run a campaign,” Ms. Butler said in a statement. “I know this will be a surprise to many because traditionally we don’t see those who have power let it go. It may not be the decision people expected but it’s the right one for me.”
California’s 2024 Senate race already has a crowded field that includes Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff, who have all been crisscrossing the state since the winter, courting voters and raising money. Former Los Angeles Dodgers star Steve Garvey, a Republican, also recently said he’s running.
Mr. Schiff and Ms. Porter are leading in the polls. They have raised the most money in the race, with tens of millions of dollars to spend in the coming months. Because of California’s “jungle primary” system, the two candidates who receive the most votes in the March primary, regardless of political party, will compete in a November runoff.
With the exception of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who appointed Ms. Butler to fill Feinstein’s seat, many
of the state’s political strategists, donors and influential unions have cast their lot with one of the three most prominent Democratic candidates.
Mr. Schiff currently has the support of six statewide labor unions including the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. Mr. Schiff and Ms. Lee, who is running behind in the polls, have the support of most elected officials in Sacramento and the state’s congressional delegation.
At a recent candidates forum, the trio said they planned to run regardless of Ms. Butler’s decision, adding that a competitive race is healthy and benefits voters.
“I think this race has galvanized and energized California to have important conversations about whether we’re getting what we need from Washington,” Ms. Porter said.
Feinstein served more than 30 years in the U.S. Senate before her death Sept. 29. Even before she decided not to run for reelection earlier this year, Ms. Porter jumped into the race. Mr. Schiff and Ms. Lee soon followed. Throughout the spring, when Feinstein was missing work because of health issues, the Democratic members of Congress who were running for her seat refrained from criticizing her, simply sending well wishes for her recovery.