Governor Newsom selects head-turning Senate appointee following Dianne Feinstein’s death.
Newsom’s Senate Appointment: Laphonza Butler
- According to reports, California Governor Gavin Newsom nominated Laphonza Butler as Dianne Feinstein’s successor in the U.S. Senate.
- Butler, EMILY’s List president, is slated to fill the vacancy without restrictions or conditions regarding the 2024 elections.
- Feinstein’s death at age 90 triggers the appointment, with Butler expected to be inaugurated this week.
Laphonza Butler. Credit: CalMatters.Significance of Butler’s Selection
- Butler is set to become California’s first Black woman and openly lesbian Senator.
- The forthcoming Senator is thus a milestone figure in the state’s diverse and inclusive political landscape.
- Journalist Yashar Ali highlights that Butler will also be the second lesbian Senator nationwide.
Residency Concerns and EMILY’s List Cleanup
- Controversy arises over Butler’s recent residency in Silver Springs, Maryland, as noted in FEC filings and her social media.
- There are discrepancies in residency records, with EMILY’s List swiftly amending their site to omit Butler’s Maryland residence information.
- EMILY’s List, a prominent PAC supporting pro-abortion candidates, is under scrutiny for this modification.
