Laphonza Butler was sworn in as the new Senator of California, replacing the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Vice President Kamala Harris administered the oath of office, and Butler received applause from the Senate floor and gallery. She is the third Black woman to serve as a senator and the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the chamber. President Joe Biden congratulated Butler after her swearing-in ceremony.
Butler, the former president of EMILY’s List, a group focused on electing Democratic women who support abortion rights, expressed gratitude for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s nomination and vowed to honor Feinstein’s legacy by serving the people of California and the nation. Although Butler resides in Maryland, she re-registered to vote in California. With her appointment, the Democrats now have a 51-49 majority, allowing them to potentially fill Feinstein’s seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Prior to her appointment, Newsom revealed his plans to make an interim appointment to fill Feinstein’s seat to avoid favoring any current candidates in the upcoming Senate race. However, he emphasized that no restrictions were placed on Butler’s appointment, leaving her free to run for the Senate if she chooses. Butler will serve the remainder of Feinstein’s term until early 2025 and has not yet indicated her intentions to run for the Senate seat.
