Laphonza Butler to Make History as Third Black Woman and First Openly LGBTQ Person to Represent California in the Senate

California Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Laphonza Butler, the president of EMILY’s List, to fill the seat of the late Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein. Butler will become the third Black woman to ever serve in the Senate, as well as the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the chamber.

Feinstein, who was the longest-serving woman in the Senate, passed away last week at the age of 90. In anticipation of her stepping down sooner, Newsom had promised to appoint a Black woman as her immediate successor and not to choose one of the leading candidates for election to a full term in the seat.

Butler is expected to be sworn-in to the seat on Wednesday by Vice President Kamala Harris. In California, the governor has the power to appoint a senator to serve until the next regularly scheduled statewide general election. That means Butler will serve until the next senator, whom voters will choose in the November 2024 election, is sworn in.

Butler has led EMILY’s List, which works to elect Democratic women who support abortion rights, since 2015. She has also served as the president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2015, which represents over 400,000 home care and nursing home workers in California.

The appointment of Butler is a historic moment for the state of California and the nation. She will be the first openly LGBTQ individual to represent California in the Senate and the third Black woman to ever serve in the chamber.