California Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Laphonza Butler, the president of EMILY's List, to fill the late Senator Dianne Feinstein's seat. Butler will be the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the Senate and the third Black woman to ever serve in the chamber. She is expected to be sworn-in to the seat on Wednesday by Vice President Kamala Harris and will serve until the next senator is elected in the November 2024 election.
