California Sen. Laphonza Butler Won’t Run In 2024—Here’s Who’s Running For Feinstein’s Old Seat

Topline

Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), who Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed to replace the deceased Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) in the Senate just 18 days ago, announced Thursday she would not run for the office in 2024—opening the door for a wide open election in 2024.

Key Facts

Key Background

When Feinstein died in September, Newsom, who as governor is responsible for selecting replacement senators, swore he would select a Black woman to replace her—a response to criticism he received for not appointing a Black woman to replace Kamala Harris when she left her role as senator to become vice president after the 2020 election. On October 1, Newsom announced he was appointing Butler. Butler had never been elected to political office before. She had spent nearly two decades representing home-care workers at the Service Employees International Union, led EMILY’s List (a political organization that tries to get women in the Democratic party elected to political offices across the U.S.) and worked at a political consulting firm called SCRB Strategies. Among her achievements are leading the effort to establish a $15 minimum wage in California and consulting for Harris, Newsom and the company Uber.

What To Watch For

Butler’s exit from the seat next year clears the way for a competitive primary with no incumbent. Multiple high-profile names from the House of Representatives have already entered the race. Those candidates include Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff , who previously chaired the powerful House Intelligence Committee and was one of eight members of a committee that investigated the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. Progressive Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, who is known for her confrontational style in Congress and has touted the fact that she has never accepted donations from corporate PACs, is also running. Fellow progressive Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee, who formerly chaired the Congressional Black Caucus and has represented the U.S. at the United Nations General Assembly multiple times, is also running. Additionally, Steve Garvey, a former first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, is seeking the Republican nomination.

Further Reading

Gavin Newsom Picks Laphonza Butler To Fill Dianne Feinstein’s Senate Seat (Forbes)

Dianne Feinstein Dead At 90: Here’s What Happens Next Ahead Of Senate Race (Forbes)

Laphonza Butler Will Not Run for Senate in 2024 (New York Times)