California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, appointed a Democratic strategist and former labor union boss to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., on Sunday.
Newsom tapped Laphonza Butler, the president of EMILY’s List — a Democratic political action committee (PAC) dedicated to electing pro-abortion Democratic women to office — for the vacant Senate seat.
Butler’s EMILY’s List biography had her residence listed as Silver Spring, Maryland, earlier Sunday evening, but it was removed from the profile shortly after it was announced she would be appointed to the position. An FEC filing from Aug. 31 also showed a Maryland address.
NEWSOM NAMES LAPHONZA BUTLER, FORMER KAMALA HARRIS ADVISER, TO FILL FEINSTEIN’S VACANT SENATE SEAT
EMILY’s List President Laphonza Butler addresses a Biden-Harris campaign rally at the Mayflower Hotel on June 23, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom tapped Laphonza Butler, pictured here, the president of EMILY’s List — a Democratic political action committee dedicated to electing pro-abortion Democratic women to Congress — for the vacant Senate seat. (AP)
EMILY’s List describes Butler as “a leader in Democratic politics, campaign strategy, and the labor movement for two decades” who has “dedicated her life to empowering women and supporting them in finding their voice, and using it to make meaningful change.”
According to its website, the progressive PAC’s vision includes championing “diversity as a catalyst for progressive change that makes our country better” as well as growing their “millions-strong community of passionate pro-choice supporters nationwide.”
Additionally, EMILY’s List touts its commitment to “Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” on an entire page dedicated to the subjects, even going as far as to denote its three percent of “nonbinary/third gender” employees.
On the page, the PAC includes a “BIPOC breakdown” of the different races of their employees, which includes “Latinx” — a term reportedly heavily disfavored by the Latino community.
DIANNE FEINSTEIN DESCRIBED BY WAPO, NYT, AP AS ‘CENTRIST’ DEM DESPITE PROGRESSIVE VOTING RECORD
California Gov. Gavin Newsom talks to reporters in the spin room following the FOX Business Republican Primary Debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Sept. 27, 2023, in Simi Valley, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
“Fundamentally, we believe that sharing these numbers and prioritizing these efforts is not only best practice, but the right thing to do, especially for an organization like ours,” the organization writes. “We pride ourselves on electing underrepresented and marginalized women to all levels of public office, so we must ensure that our internal hiring practices further reflect these values.”
“We always strive to do right by our candidates, supporters, and staff; publishing these numbers on our website and demonstrating how seriously we take our staff demographics is one component of this work,” the website continues, which also noted the data on the website was updated last in January 2023.
Before joining the pro-abortion PAC, Butler worked as North American public policy director of Airbnb and as a senior adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris’ failed 2020 presidential campaign.
Butler got her start in politics by supporting labor unions, eventually becoming the union president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2015 in California.
Laphonza Butler got her start in politics by supporting labor unions, eventually becoming the union president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Long Term Care Workers, SEIU Local 2015 at 30 years old. (Emily’s List)
EMILY’s List did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Butler will finish out the remainder of Feinstein’s term in Washington, D.C., ahead of the 2024 election. In a statement, the governor described Butler as an “advocate for women and girls, a second-generation fighter for working people, and a trusted adviser to Vice President Harris.”
“As we mourn the enormous loss of Senator Feinstein, the very freedoms she fought for — reproductive freedom, equal protection, and safety from gun violence — have never been under greater assault,” Newsom added. “Laphonza will carry the baton left by Senator Feinstein, continue to break glass ceilings, and fight for all Californians in Washington D.C.”
Butler will be the only Black woman serving in the U.S. Senate and the first openly LGBTQ+ lawmaker to represent the Golden State in the upper chamber.
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Newsom previously vowed to place a Black woman in any Senate seat that became vacant — a promise that was criticized by U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., who said the Democrat governor’s pledge was “insulting” to Black women, since the appointment would be temporary ahead of the primary.
Butler’s appointment came days after Feinstein’s death on Thursday at the age of 90.
Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion and Lee Ross contributed reporting.
