News

Laphonza Butler becomes first Black woman Senator from California

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday selected Laphonza Butler, a Democratic strategist and adviser to Kamala Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign, to fill the vacant US Senate seat held by the late Sen.

In choosing Butler, Newsom fulfilled his pledge to appoint a Black woman if Feinstein’s seat became open. However, he had been facing pressure from some Black politicians and advocacy groups to select Rep. Barbara Lee, a prominent Black congresswoman who is already running for the seat.

Butler will be the only Black woman serving in the US Senate, and the first openly LGBTQ+ person to represent California in the chamber.You May LikeTop 10 Biggest Foods in The WorldNFTscores.io  by Taboola Sponsored Links Newsom said in a statement that the priorities Feinstein fought for in Congress — reproductive freedom, equal protection and safety from gun violence — were under assault in the nation.”Laphonza will carry the baton left by Sen. Feinstein (and) continue to break glass ceilings and fight for all Californians in Washington D.C.,” he said.

Butler leads Emily’s List, a political organisation that supports Democratic women candidates who favour abortion rights. She also is a former labour leader with SEIU 2015, a powerful force in California politics.Her appointment sets up a potentially tricky political calculus in the crowded 2024 contest to succeed Feinstein, which has been underway since the beginning of the year.

Newsom spokesman Anthony York said the governor did not ask Butler to commit to staying out of the race. The deadline for candidates to submit paperwork to seek the office is December 8. Should Butler enter the contest, she could set up a competition for the relatively small but influential group of Black voters in California and possibly undercut Lee’s chances.

Emily’s List is known as a fundraising powerhouse, and raising huge sums of campaign cash is a must in any statewide California race. Newsom’s statement said she will step down from the organisation.

The decision carried the threat of political fallout for Newsom, who is seen as a potential future national candidate. The candidate favoured by Black voters has won the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination every cycle since 1992. The Congressional Black Caucus was among the groups and Black politicians that had urged Newsom to appoint Lee, calling her the best-qualified choice for the post.

The long-serving Feinstein died last Thursday at age 90 after a series of illnesses.Butler currently lives in Maryland, according to her Emily’s List biography. Izzy Gardon, a spokesman for Newsom, said Butler owns a home in California. She is expected to reregister to vote in California before being sworn in. That could happen as early as Tuesday evening when the Senate returns to session.

Butler did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment nor release a statement.Democrats control the Senate 51-49, though Feinstein’s seat is vacant. A quick appointment by Newsom will give the Democratic caucus more wiggle room on close votes, including nominations that Republicans uniformly oppose.

Feinstein, the oldest member of Congress and the longest-serving woman in the Senate said in February she would not seek reelection in 2024. Lee is one of several prominent Democrats competing for the seat, including Democratic U.S. Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff. Newsom said he did not want to appoint any of the candidates because it would give them an unfair advantage in the race.

Butler has never held elected office but has a long track record in California politics. She served as a senior adviser to Harris’s 2020 presidential campaign while working at a political firm filled with strategists who have worked for Newsom and many other prominent state Democrats. She also briefly worked in the private sector for Airbnb.She called Feinstein “a legendary figure for women in politics and around the country,” in a statement posted after Feinstein’s death.

Emily’s List, the group Butler leads, focuses on electing Democratic women who support abortion rights. With the US Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn women’s constitutional right to abortion, the issue has become a galvanising one for many Democrats.

Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organisation, said the appointment “will give our … community another voice in Congress at a time when our rights and freedoms are under attack across the country.

”It’s not Newsom’s first time selecting a U.S. senator, after being tasked with choosing a replacement for Kamala Harris when she was elected vice president; at that time he selected California Secretary of State Alex Padilla for the post. It was one of a string of appointments Newsom made in late 2020 and early 2021, a power that gave him kingmaker status among the state’s ambitious Democrats.

The seat is expected to stay in Democratic hands in the 2024 election. Democrats in the liberal-leaning state have not lost a statewide election since 2006, and the party holds a nearly 2-to-1 voter registration advantage over Republicans.

Related Posts

Beulah Elizabeth Richardson – known professionally as Beah Richards, was an American actress and writer.

Beulah Elizabeth Richardson was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on 12 July 1920. Her father, Wesley R. Richardson, was a Baptist minister; her mother, Beulah Molton Richardson, was a…

Alberta Hunter – This music biography portrays the life of the legendary blues singer and songwriter.

Alberta Hunter (April 1, 1895 – October 17, 1984) was an American singer-songwriter. She sang blues and jazz music. She was especially popular in the 1920s and 1930s….

“One of the Most Beautiful Women in America” ​​- Ethel Moses: The Black Jean Harlow

Ethel Moses was an American stage and film actress and dancer. She was known as the “Black Jean Harlow”. Moses is best known for her work in Oscar…

Nichelle Nichols: The Life and Legacy of a Pioneer

The woman who captivated the world with her portrayal of Lieutenant Nyota Uhura on Star Trek’s original series was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 to Lishia and Samuel Nichols in Robbins, Illinois, on December…

Jester Joseph Hairston was an African American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor and actor.

Jester Joseph Hairston (July 9, 1901 – January 18, 2000) was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor and actor. He was regarded as a leading expert on black spirituals and choral music. His…

The Brothers Johnson – A funk and R&B band that achieved fame from the mid-1970s to early 1980s.

The Brothers Johnson were an American funk and R&B band consisting of the American brothers George (“Lightnin’ Licks”) and Louis E. Johnson (“Thunder Thumbs”).[1] They achieved their greatest success from the mid-1970s to early 1980s,…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *