Gov. Newsom Selects Laphonza Butler to Fill Feinstein's Vacant Senate Seat

Laphonza Butler, a former adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris who is currently president of EMILY’s List, was chosen to fill Dianne Feinstein's vacant U.S. Senate seat in California.

The Details: Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) announced his selection of Butler on Sunday. After working with Harris's vice presidential campaign, Butler became the head of EMILY's List in 2021, a pro-choice organization working to "recruit, train, and support Democratic pro-choice women running for office up and down the ballot."

Key Quotes: "Laphonza has spent her entire career fighting for women and girls and has been a fierce advocate for working people," Newsom said in his announcement. "She will make history -- becoming the first Black lesbian to openly serve in the U.S. Senate."

For Context: Newsom had promised that, if Feinstein's seat ever became vacant, he would select a black woman to replace her.

How the Media Covered It: Headlines from center- and right-rated sources were more likely to highlight Butler's previous work with Harris. Left-rated sources were more likely to highlight how Newsom fulfilled his promise of filling Feinstein's seat with a black woman. A Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) report focused on how Butler is registered to vote in Maryland, and how her biography on the EMILYs list website no longer displays her Maryland address after it had previously. Politico (Lean Left bias) said "Butler is registered to vote in Maryland but will switch her registration to California."