SAN FRANCISCO, CA — (10-02-23) — Gov. Gavin Newsom helps to make LGBT history as he names Laphonza Butler to replace late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who passed away at the age of 90 last Friday. Laphonza Butler also makes history by becoming the first openly Black lesbian Senator to serve from California.
Newsom’s office confirmed that Butler will be stepping down from her post as president of the political action committee Emily’s List, which works to elect Democratic women. Butler was also a longtime senior advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as a labor leader.
“An advocate for women and girls, a second-generation fighter for working people, and a trusted advisor to Vice President Harris, Laphonza Butler represents the best of California,” said Gov. Newsom in a statement on Sunday.
Newsom further added that Butler will champion the same issues that Feinstein took on, such as reproductive freedom, equal protection under the law, and gun violence.
Butler hails from a working-class family and her father died when she was a teenager. Her mother became the sole provider for the household and worked as a classroom aide, a home care provider, a security guard and a bookkeeper to support Butler and her two siblings.
In addition to Vice President Harris, Butler has led strategy efforts for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She was also president of California’s largest labor union, SEIU Local 2015, a union representing nursing home and home-care workers.
In Los Angeles, Butler was the former director of the Board of Governors of the LA branch of the Federal Reserve System. Former Gov. Jerry Brown appointed her to the University of California Board of Regents in 2018 and she served until 2021.
In fact former president Barack Obama named Butler a “Champion of Change”.
Butler has a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Jackson State University and shares a home with her wife Neneki and their daughter Nylah. She is scheduled to be sworn in by vice president Harris on Wednesday.
Article by: Paul Goldberg, Staff Writer
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