Laphonza Butler's Rise to Power
On August 2nd, Laphonza Butler became one of the most powerful people in the country, rapidly ascending like no other. Only a few days prior, California Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away after serving in Congress for more than 30 years. Her sudden passing still shocked many despite her old age. The open Senate seat came with the question of replacement.
On October 1st, Gavin Newsom made the controversial decision of choosing Laphonza Butler to be the interim senator, fulfilling his promise to appoint a black woman in place of Feinstein after growing concerns about her health. Representative Barbara Lee, a black woman and one of the candidates running for the next election after Butler, was not chosen. Newsomsaid he would avoid choosing candidates already campaigning for the position, giving Butler an opportunity to fill the seat. This was a controversial decision that no doubt involved Lee’s status as a Republican.
To many, Butler seems like the ideal California senator. Throughout her career, she has been highly involved in the Democratic Party and even served as the senior strategic advisor for Hillary Clinton during her presidential campaign. Not only do her political views align with Californian voters, but she’s also had a lifetime of experience in advocacy.
Butler began her career as a union organizer and worked her way up to president of California’s largest union, the SEIU United Long Term Case Workers. Her connections and background could bring her gain support from California’s most powerful unions. Additionally, as the former president of Emily’s List, a political action committee that supports the candidacy of women in favor of abortion rights, she has a working knowledge of the functionalities and formalities of Congress. Many also believe that as a black lesbian woman, she brings a new perspective to Congress.
Despite her many triumphs, there are a number of controversies surrounding her selection. Many have begun to ponder her legitimacy as a California resident. Unlike most Californian senators, Butler was born and raised in Mississippi, where she attended Jackson State University before living in California for an unknown amount of years. Since she assumed the role of President of Emily’s List, she has been living in Maryland. In fact, she only registered to vote in California a few days before she filled Feinstein's seat in the Senate. She has also strayed further and further away from her origins as a labor leader. Butler drew criticism from liberal organizations after representing Uber in conversations with unions that aimed to prevent drivers from being classified as employees. The consulting firm where she worked at the time, SCRB Strategies, had strong ties to Gavin Newsom and many other Democrats. Although she said that she had the interests of drivers in mind, her actions caused labor unions to no longer view her as an ally. Soon before Butler was sworn in, a letter surfaced regarding her relationship with Los Angeles City Council Member Mark Ridley Thomas, who was recently convicted of bribery, conspiracy, mail fraud, and wire fraud. Butler wrote to the judge who sentenced him, describing his support of her family and the instrumental role he played in increasing the minimum wage in California. When asked about this by the San Francisco Chronicle, she replied, “I would say to people to look for humanity at every opportunity.” Her words of support for Thomas, a public service member convicted of federal corruption, have made her a widely unpopular choice for many.
What does this mean for the Senate race in 2024? It is unclear whether Butler will run for the Senate seat in 2024. Butler currently has a strong advantage over the other candidates, who will not have the chance that she does to demonstrate themselves. Although she might not have plans to run for a new term, she plans to tackle abortion and gun control in her short time in office. These plans heavily align with the goals of Emily’s List, perhaps to show the public that she still hasn’t forgotten what she initially set out to do.
