Controversy Over Laphonza Butler Deepens as Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s Replacement
Feinstein to lie in state at San Francisco City Hall on Wednesday
By Evan Symon, October 2, 2023 11:47 am
Funeral and Lying In State Services for recently deceased Senator Dianne Feinstein were announced on Monday amid growing concern that her interim replacement, Laphonza Butler, may not meet all the necessary requirements for office.
Since Friday, California has seen a major political shakeup occur with unprecedented speed. Early on Friday, September 29th, Senator Dianne Feinstein died in Washington D.C. For years, Feinstein had been closely watched because of her numerous health problems. Polling showed that the majority of voters wanted her out, with another major push having been expected soon. It reached such a point that Governor Gavin Newsom began seriously going over picks of whom he wanted as an interim, caretaker Senator.
Having already said that his next pick would be a black woman because of outcry over having not had a similar replacement for Kamala Harris in 2021, speculation ran rampant over the summer. In recent months, Newsom narrowed it down by saying that his pick would only fill in the rest of Feinstein’s term, with the next person coming in the 2024 election. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), who is currently running for Senate, chastised Newsom for this decision as it put her out of the running and would not give her a much needed advantage of incumbent in next years race. And while Butler had been on the radar for many pundits, most political experts had been speculating that Newsom would pick either Secretary of State Shirley Weber or San Francisco Mayor London Breed.
“Newsom had been going over people for months,” said Dana, a Capitol staffer. “Barring a major change, he knew who he was going to pick for awhile. He had already pared down shortlists.”
The news of Feinstein’s death made national headlines and thrust Newsom once again into the spotlight as reembraces poured in on Friday and Saturday. Then on Sunday, the next big shift happened. While most interim replacements chosen by Governors usually take a few weeks minimum to sort out, especially if it happens over a recess period, Newsom announced his pick less than 48 hours after Feinstein’s death. Months of prior work in deciding a successor, the close 51-49 party split in the Senate, and worry over the Democrats losing their hairline majority because of resignation calls against Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) over bribery allegations, all led Newsom to announce the name fast. And on Sunday it became known: EMILY’s List President Laphonza Butler.
“An advocate for women and girls, a second-generation fighter for working people, and a trusted adviser to Vice President Harris, Laphonza Butler represents the best of California, and she’ll represent us proudly in the United States Senate,” said Newsom on Sunday. “As we mourn the enormous loss of Senator Feinstein, the very freedoms she fought for — reproductive freedom, equal protection, and safety from gun violence — have never been under greater assault. Laphonza will carry the baton left by Senator Feinstein, continue to break glass ceilings, and fight for all Californians in Washington D.C.”
A divisive choice by Newsom
The choice of Butler was immediately divisive. In addition to being a president at EMILY’s List, Butler has had no elected experience. Previously was a union organizer for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), an SEIU local president, a regent of the University of California, an advisor on Kamala Harris’ failed 2020 presidential run, and an Airbnb director of public policy. However, it also became apparent on Sunday that Butler may not even be allowed to take the seat as she is currently a resident of Maryland.
Newsom’s office soon clarified that she would be updating her residency before taking office, similar to how Dick Cheney updated his residency in 2000 from Texas to Wyoming to meet election rules. Despite this, concern carried over into Monday as Butler’s Maryland residency was deepened because of her child going to a Maryland school and Butler herself having not lived in California for several years, as well as Butler panicking about the situation and deleting all connections she has to Maryland online.
Even with the controversy brewing, Butler accepted Newsom’s appointment on Monday, stating, “I am honored to accept Gov. Newsom’s nomination to be a U.S. Senator for a state I have long called home.”
I'm honored to accept Gov. @GavinNewsom's nomination to be U.S. Senator for a state I have made my home and honored by his trust in me to serve the people of California and this great nation. 🧵
— Laphonza Butler (@LaphonzaB) October 2, 2023
“It will likely go through, but it was really shortsighted of Newsom and his staff to overlook that and not even strike it out early in the press release,” continued Dana. “Instead, they made the decision appear rash rather than calculated, which is what it was. They needed a prominent black woman willing to be Senator for just over a year, and she not only ticked off all the boxes, she added more by being LGBT and a friend to the Democratic party.”
“But right now, she is getting the same heat Bobby Kennedy did in the 60’s and Hillary Clinton did 20 years ago for switching quickly to another state to run for Senate. She had moved to California in 2009, then moved out in 2021. And now she is back for this? If she was fine as a replacement, she wouldn’t be deleting a ton of stuff about her on the internet or suspiciously pointing out in statements that she is a California resident.”
While the Butler situation has continued to simmer, it was announced on Monday that Feinstein, already flown back from the District, would be lying in state at San Francisco City Hall on Wednesday. A funeral service is then to follow on Thursday at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center in the Herbst Theater.
As of Monday morning, Newsom still plans to have Butler be the new interim Senator for California later this month.
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This lowers the bar for the requirement to actually be a CA resident to be a senator.
Next maybe they will have a senator with listed residence out in Maine, since all they need is to prove they owned a small shack in CA as the requirement.
We’ve been saying for years that all the talented people were leaving California, and Newsom said it wasn’t so.
This appointment is Newson’s way of admitting he was wrong about that, whether he knows it or not.
I LaFonzie’s case, I believe you’ve gotten the terms ‘talented’ and ‘politically connected’ confused.
So where is our Globe Hollywood beat reporter? Let’s give Meghan Markle some publicity. She appears to be interested in the job – she has money, the name recognition (Duchess of Sussex), California resident, Hollywood liberal, African-American heritage…..Let’s get her into the race and throw a monkey wrench in Democrat plans.
https://www.oann.com/newsroom/meghan-markle-considers-running-for-vacant-ca-democrat-senate-seat/
Senator would be the perfect job for someone who just wants to be left alone while also hogging the spotlight. 😉
Hmmmm… could it be that Butler is on the voting rolls in both California AND Maryland, simultaneously???
Wouldn’t surprise me in the least….
Remarkable attempt to skirt the law by Newsom.
He picked someone who is unelectable, and not even from California, not a California taxpayer, not a resident, not a voter, and educated out of state- a classic carpetbagger. It reminds me of Tony Thurmond attempting to select a Director Of Equity who resided in Philadelphia, contrary to California law.
Rep. Darell Issa has started the ball rolling to bar her from office.
We are ruled by our enemies. Butler isn’t even a native to this state – she was born in Mississippi. California has how many millions of people and we have an alien as our senator? This is not right.
It’s simple. This women is not from California and does not qualify as a senate candidate for California. With election rigging she is sure to stay in office. California voters robbed again. Newsom has been appointing both senate seats and the AG’s office time two.
Newsom is bolting a democrat bundler and key player in election Influencing and ballot harvesting on to the federal level donor network. This appointment has exactly zero to do with Senate business and 100% to do with representing Newsom’s upcoming presidential candidacy at the federal level for his presidential run.
too bad gruesome was able to put the fix in on his recall that could have derailed his run for the wh. the marxist policy blueprint (cali-4-nia), will have a run at the presidency for a rollout to the rest of the nation. hopefully, the demo-rats themselves will put him down because there are not enough conservatives left to do it.
She has a child?
Don’t worry. After all humans have passed in the state of California, USA. The AI’s of California, USA. Will review the Humans as inferior and case is closed!!?