Laphonza Butler was sworn in Tuesday to replace the late California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, as speculation swirled about her desire to seek a full term next year.
Butler, who was appointed by Golden State Gov. Gavin Newsom, took the oath of office and received a standing ovation from his new Senate colleagues after a swearing-in ceremony presided over by Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Democrat has been a resident of Silver Spring, Maryland, since 2021, FEC filings and public records show.
She moved to the Washington, DC, region to become president of Emily’s List, a political action committee dedicated to electing pro-abortion Democratic female candidates.
Butler maintained a residence in California from 2009 to 2021, according to recordsbut Newsom’s spokesman previously told The Post that he recently re-registered to vote in the Golden State.
he X accountformerly known as Twitter, and the Wikipedia page both state that he lives in Maryland, with the latter quickly edited to reflect his ties to Los Angeles.
Sen. Laphonza Butler was sworn in Tuesday to replace the late Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein as speculation swirled about her desire to seek a full term next year. APFeinstein died at her home in DC on Thursday, her office said, hours after casting her final vote in the upper chamber. Reuters
The social media backlash could leave Butler open to criticism from opponents as a “carpet burner” – but he refused to say whether he would stand for election next year.
The governor celebrated her appointment on Tuesday, saying she would “make history as the first openly LGBTQ United States Senator in California and the first black lesbian to serve openly in Congress in American history.”
Butler took the oath of office and received a standing ovation from his new Senate colleagues after a swearing-in ceremony presided over by Vice President Kamala Harris.AFP via Getty Images
“An advocate for women and girls, a second-generation fighter for working people and a trusted advisor to Vice President Harris, Laphonza Butler represents the best of California, and she will represent us proudly in the United States Senate,” Newsom said in a statement. .
“As we mourn the great loss of Senator Feinstein, the freedoms she fought for — reproductive freedom, equal protection, and safety from gun violence — have never been under greater attack.”
Newsom declined to nominate any of the announced candidates for Feinstein’s seat in the Democratic primary, including state Reps. Adam Schiff, Barbara Lee and Katie Porter.
Feinstein was hospitalized earlier this year with shingles, suffered from facial paralysis from Ramsay Hunt syndrome and also suffered from encephalitis before returning to Capitol Hill in May. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
President Biden also called Butler to congratulate him on his appointment to the Senate, the White House announced.
Butler worked for Harris’ failed 2020 presidential campaign and at the Service Employees International Union for nearly two decades and briefly as a director at Airbnb before being promoted to president of Emily’s List.
Feinstein died of natural causes at her D.C. home last Thursday, her office said, hours after casting her final vote in the upper house.
He was hospitalized earlier this year with shingles, suffered facial paralysis from Ramsay Hunt syndrome and also contracted encephalitis before returning to Capitol Hill in May, the New York Times reported.
Butler worked for Harris’ failed 2020 presidential campaign and at the Service Employees International Union for nearly two decades before being elevated to Emily’s List president. Getty Images for EMILY’s List
After her return, Feinstein was sometimes seen as confused and denied that she was absent. Assistants often help him in a wheelchair — and sometimes block reporters from interacting with him.
The eldest daughter of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Nancy Corinne Prowda, was also seen on the senator’s side — in what some saw as a power move since the former House speaker is backing Schiff to run in 2024.
Newsom had been expected to potentially pick Lee to replace Feinstein after she promised to replace the longtime Democratic female senator with a black woman.
Butler is currently the only black female senator in the upper house. The deadline for him to file paperwork for a potential 2024 run is Dec. 8 AP
Lee posted on X that he is “specifically focused on winning” his 2024 Senate campaign trailing slightly, saying that California “deserves an experienced senator who will implement progressive priorities.”
Newsom previously appointed California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to replace Harris after he was chosen as President Biden’s running mate in 2020.
Butler is currently the only black female senator in the upper house. The deadline for him to file paperwork for a potential 2024 run is December 8.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
