California Sen. Laphonza Butler sworn in, marking historic first

[brooklynite]

Source: Axios

Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) was sworn into office on Tuesday, becoming the first Black lesbian to openly serve in the U.S. Senate.

Driving the news: Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to represent California in the Senate, administered Butler's oath of office. Butler replaces longtime Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who died on Friday.

Butler serves as the president of Emily's List, a national PAC that supports pro-choice Democratic women in politics.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who appointed Butler to fill Feinstein's seat, said she plans to step down from the advocacy role.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2023/10/03/laphonza-butler-california-senator-feinstein-replacement

[ZonkerHarris]

1. awesome pick

[republianmushroom]

2. I like it

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

3. 👍🏼👍🏼

[riversedge]

4. Congratulations

[iluvtennis]

5. Awesome news! n/t

[Oopsie Daisy]

6. This makes me happy. Very very happy!

I wish her the best of luck!

[swong19104]

7. She is indeed an awesome choice

Her qualifications are impeccable. We knew he wanted to pick a black woman. And I doubt she was among any of our list of the ones we knew of. But she definitely has credibility. No George Santos, she.

[cstanleytech]

8. Will she run for reelection though and if so what are her chances of not losing it to a Republican?

[Retrograde]

10. California has jungle primaries

aka, everybody who's interested in the office runs at once in the same non-partisan primary. The top two vote-getters - regardless of party - go on to the general election. In 2016 Harris ran against another Dem (Sanchez from southern California, IIRC) and in 2018 Feinstein ran against Dem Mark de Leon. Padilla ran in 2022 against a Republican whose name I forgot.

Since the primary is March 5, 2024, Butler has to act fast if she wants to be on the ballot. There will actually be two elections for senator next year: one to fill out the remainder of Feinstein's term - from November 2024 to January 3, 2025 - and one for the full 6 year term. Padilla had to do the same in 2022.

Getting on the primary ballot is relatively easy - being eligible per the Constitution, then getting the right combination of signatures and money. Which is why we end up with some of the clowns who file but aren't serious. Looking at Ballotpedia, I don't see any Republicans I recognize - although there is someone named Barack Obama Mandela running as a Republican.

[Fla Dem]

9. Outstanding! Congratulations!