The sudden death of one top Democrat is causing major problems.
They need a replacement quickly.
So Democrats are left scrambling to fill this top position.
After serving in public office for decades, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) died Thursday night at the age of 90.
“Sadly, Senator Feinstein passed away last night at her home in Washington, D.C.,” her office said in a statement last Friday morning. “Her passing is a great loss for so many, from those who loved and cared for her to the people of California that she dedicated her life to serving.”
Los Angeles-area ABC 7 wrote that she was: “the first woman president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the first woman mayor of San Francisco, and one of two of the first women elected to the U.S. Senate from California.”
During the last year, Feinstein’s failing health had become a major controversy among the Democrats.
In April 2022, an article in the San Francisco Times accused her of being unfit to serve.
Feinstein claimed in response, “I remain committed to do what I said I would when I was re-elected in 2018: fight for Californians, especially on the economy and the key issues for California of water and fire. While I have focused for much of the past year on my husband’s health and ultimate passing, I have remained committed to achieving results and I’d put my record up against anyone’s.”
Prior to her death, Governor Gavin Newsom said he intended to appoint a black woman as interim Senator should Feinstein resign from her seat.
“Yes. Interim appointment. I don’t want to get involved in the primary,” Newsom said in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” earlier this month. “It would be completely unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off. That primary is just a matter of months away. I don’t want to tip the balance of that.”
On Sunday, Newsom announced he was appointing Laphonza Butler, president of far-left PAC, EMILY’s List, to replace Feinstein’s seat.
“This means that California will not only get a Black woman Senator but also its first openly lesbian Senator,” noted journalist Yashar Ali. “Laphonza will be the second lesbian to serve in the Senate.”
However, while Butler owns a home in California, her current state of residence is listed as Maryland.
“FEC filings from EMILY’s List record Laphonza Butler’s residence as Silver Springs, Maryland as recently as 31 days ago,” said FEC analyst Rob Pyers.
“FPPC and FEC filings indicate that soon-to-be California Senator Laphonza Butler hasn’t been a resident of the state for over two years.”
If she chooses to run to keep the seat in 2024, Butler will be up against several other high-profile Democrats – Reps. Barbara Lee, Katie Porter, and Adam Schiff – vying for the seat.
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