Governor Newsom Appoints Schiff to Serve Out Rest Of Sen. Feinstein’s Term

Governor Gavin Newsom opted to replace Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA) with Congressman and Senator-elect Adam Schiff (D-CA) as Senator early on Sunday, placing Schiff in as Senator over a month before all other incoming Senators are to be sworn-in thanks to Butler’s status as an interim Senator.

Schiff’s road to being Senator began in earnest in September 2023 when Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away. While Schiff had been seen as a top candidate in a potential 2024 race if Feinstein didn’t run, her death sparked a flurry of candidates to enter, including Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), and former baseball star Steve Garvey (R). While Schiff won the primary in March, Garvey had nearly come in first place. After the Primary election in March, Schiff managed to stay ahead of Garvey in the polls thanks to not only the strong Democratic voting bloc in the state, but with Schiff facing few controversies between March and November. Early polls, mostly done by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), found Schiff leading Garvey by between 61% to 64%, with Garvey garnering between 37% and 31%. In August, a PPIC poll found that Schiff was leading Garvey 66% to 34%, with a poll in October showing it to be 63%-35%.

Schiff ultimately won on election day last month 9,036,252 votes 6,312,594 votes, or, 58.8% to 41.2%. While Schiff won handedly, it was the first time in decades that a Democrat had not won a Senate race by 60% or more. Schiff was expected to be sworn in next month with other incoming Senators, but Governor Newsom moved it up, as Schiff had also won the special election to complete Feinstein’s term last month as well. Newsom also wanted Schiff in as soon as possible to give him a jump on Senate duties ahead of the January 3rd Senate swearing-in.

Schiff resigned as Congressman last week in anticipation. Senator Butler, told early of Newsom’s intentions, resigned on Sunday so that Schiff could be sworn-in alongside another special-election Senator, Andy Kim of New Jersey, on Monday.

“When Senator Laphonza Butler took her seat in the Senate a year ago, she brought with her a lifetime of lessons learned from organizing and advocating for opportunity and justice. In just a short time, she has left an indelible mark — proving that true leadership isn’t measured by the length of service, but by the depth of impact,” said Newsom in a statement on Sunday. “Laphonza has never shied away from fighting for what’s right. She works not for recognition, but for the greater good — a commitment that began long before her time in the Senate and will continue well beyond it.

“Thank you, Senator Butler, for your dedication and service and for honoring the life and legacy of the late Dianne Feinstein, a legacy I’m confident Senator-elect Schiff will also carry forward.”

Schiff in, Butler out

This led to Monday, when Schiff was escorted in by Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA). At a small ceremony, the two Senator’s elect were sworn in with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris presiding over the ceremony.

Schiff, who opted to be sworn in over a torah, later said on Monday that “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve all Californians as their next United States Senator. My family came to the Golden State when I was a child in the hope of finding a strong economy, safe neighborhoods, and good schools. And we found all that we could hope for in each of these respects.”

With Schiff now in office, California will have to wait until 2028 for another Senate election when Senator Padilla’s term runs up, barring any special elections from resignations or other factors.

“California will have Schiff and Padilla in office throughout Trump’s second term, and both have expressed willingness to oppose him on pretty much everything,” explained Martin Kramer, a lobbyist in Washington. “It won’t make much difference until at least 2026, as the GOP has majority there. And then 2028 with Padilla will be interesting. Because he may not run, and if he does, the Republicans have been doing a lot better there in recent years.

“Schiff may have been sworn in today, but the battle has yet to begin.”

Schiff will be sworn in formally for his first term on January 3rd.