US politics
Laphonza Butler succeeds late US Senator
The Californian politician and activist Laphonza Butler is to succeed US Senator Feinstein, who died last week at the age of 90. photo
© Lynne Sladky/AP
Laphonza Butler is set to succeed the late US Senator Dianne Feinstein. The activist and politician advised US Vice President Harris during the election campaign.
The Californian politician and activist Laphonza Butler is to succeed US Senator Dianne Feinstein, who died last week at the age of 90. California Governor Gavin Newsom will nominate her this Monday, according to consistent US media reports. The black Democrat was also an advisor to now-Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2020 presidential campaign.
Butler currently serves as chairwoman of Emily’s List, an organization that supports pro-abortion rights Democratic candidates for political office. Previously, she served as chair of SEIU Local 2015, the largest U.S. union for home care workers.
Feinstein was the oldest senator in the congressional chamber
Feinstein died last Thursday in Washington. She was the oldest senator in the congressional chamber. During her long political career, she held numerous high-ranking positions and, as a woman, was often a pioneer. From 1978 to 1988 she was the first female mayor of San Francisco, and in 1992 she was the first woman elected to the Senate for the state of California.
President Joe Biden’s Democrats have a majority in the Senate. However, it is quite tight at 51 to 49 seats, so there is likely to be interest in quickly filling the vacant seat.