California’s newest senator is a resident of the state of Maryland.
Golden State Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Sunday afternoon that he is using Emily Laphonza Butler’s List president to finish the term of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who died last week at age 90.
However, records show that Butler has spent the last few years away from the constituents he will represent for the next 15 months.
A Federal Election Commission filings from late August for abortion rights advocacy groups to list Silver Spring, Md., as Butler’s residence.
Individual donation records for Butler further indicate he does not live in California since at least September 2021when he was tapped to lead the powerful Democratic support organization.
Diane Feinstein, who held the Senate seat since 1992, died last Thursday at 90. AP
“Butler is a longtime California resident and homeowner. She moved to the DC area when she became president of Emily’s List. Butler has already re-enrolled [to vote] in California,” a spokesman for Newsom’s office told The Post Monday.
Butler’s X, formerly Twitter, account shown previously that he lived in Maryland before being scrubbed around the time Newsom’s announcement was announced.
Several iterations of his Wikipedia page also reside in Maryland, though those appear to have been edited to reflect his Los Angeles origins.
Laphonza Butler has deep ties to the Democratic Party and grassroots progressivism.Getty Images
California is the most populous state in the country and has no shortage of heavyweight Democrats.
Newsom’s choice of Butler was derided by conservatives such as New Hampshire State Senate Deputy Chief of Staff Grant Bosse. which is cracked: “So many people have moved out of California under Gavin Newsom that he appointed one of them to the Senate.”
“California senators now exist to represent the nation’s left-wing activists, not Californians,” another user said. “He’s a Senator from Planned Parenthood.”
Butler, who worked on Vice President Kamala Harris’ failed 2020 presidential campaign, has been part of the Service Employees International Union for nearly two decades and serves as a leader in its California wing — the state’s largest labor union.
He later worked at Airbnb’s policy operations, before being promoted to president of Emily’s List.
Laphonza Butler appears to have moved to Maryland after being named to lead Emily’s List in 2021, but has extensive ties to California. Various via Getty Images
Harris is expected to swear Butler into the upper chamber on Wednesday.
Newsom has faced pressure over her longstanding promise to appoint a black woman to replace Feinstein if she is unable to complete her term.
Scrutiny of the governor’s choice increased last month after he promised not to pick anyone running to replace Feinstein.
Gavin Newsom is facing intense pressure over his choice to replace Sen. Diane Feinstein.AP
This rank-and-file Senate hopeful Representative Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who knocked Newsom for teeing up the “token” appointment.
“If the Governor intends to keep his promise and appoint a black woman to the Senate, the people of California deserve the best person for the job. Not an appointment,” Lee said at the time.
The race to replace Feinstein will be one of the costliest primary races of the 2024 Senate election cycle. On Monday, one of the candidates, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), touted $6.4 million in revenue for the third quarter of the year.
I hope @LaphonzaB well and look forward to working closely with him to deliver to the Golden State.
I am singularly focused on winning my campaign for the Senate.
CA deserves an experienced Senator who will deliver progressive priorities.
That’s what I’m trying to do.
— Barbara Lee (@BarbaraLeeForCA) October 2, 2023
Butler, who would also be the first openly LGBTQ person to serve as a senator from California, is free to run for the seat herself, according to a Newsom adviser.
Lee, who apparently wanted Newsom to appoint him as a push against rival Schiff and Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), congratulated Butler on Monday.
“I wish @LaphonzaB the best of luck and look forward to working closely with her to deliver a gift for Golden State,” Lee wrote on X.
Barbara Lee is running with two colleagues in the House of Representatives to become a senator. CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images
“I am singularly focused on winning my campaign for the Senate. CA deserves an experienced Senator who will deliver progressive priorities. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
If Butler decides to jump into the sprawling and contentious Democratic primary process, he could face accusations of being a carpetbagger because of his ties to Maryland.
During the 2022 election cycle, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) famously made a campaign issue of the New Jersey residency of his Republican rival Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Butler’s appointment could also prove of strategic value to Newsom if he decides to run for president in 2028 because of the power of Emily’s List as a Democratic constituency.
Newsom, who lost last week’s Republican debate in Simi Valley and has become the face of a left-wing ad campaign erupting in the red state, insists he is not running for president — at least for now.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
