Laphonza Butler, the president of Emily’s List, has been appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to succeed Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) as the state’s next U.S.
senator. Butler, 44, who is president of Emily’s List, is expected to be sworn in this week. She will be the first Black lesbian to openly serve in the U.S.
Senate. Her appointment is through the end of next year, and she is not among the candidates, as of yet, in the race to succeed her.
Feinstein had announced earlier this year that she was not running for a new term, but the anticipation of an open seat saw Katie Porter and Adam Schiff jump into the race before then, with Barbara Lee joining later.
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