Laphonza Butler Sworn In as 12th Black Senator in U.S. History, Third Black Woman to Serve in Senate

On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris swore in Laphonza Butler as the newest U.S. Senator from California. Butler is the first Black, openly LGBTQ+ woman to serve in either chamber of Congress, and only the third Black woman to ever serve in the Senate.

The 44-year-old California labor leader was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to finish out the term of the late Senator Dianne Feinstein. Prior to her appointment, Butler served as an adviser to Harris and led the Democratic group EMILY’s List, which is focused on electing Democratic women who support abortion rights.

The swearing-in ceremony was met with boisterous applause from the Senate floor and gallery. Butler joins fellow California Democrat Senator Alex Padilla as the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the chamber.

Butler is the 12th Black senator in U.S. history, and the third Black woman to serve as a senator, following Harris and Senator Carol Moseley Braun in the 1990s. Her appointment is a historic moment for the U.S. Senate and a testament to the progress made in the fight for equality and representation.