The political elite in California is quietly abuzz over what will happen to Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s vacant Senate seat as it mourns her passing on Friday.
Feinstein had previously declared she will not seek re-election in 2024, setting off a competitive battle to choose her replacement. Now that she has passed away, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom will be forced to name a replacement to complete the balance of the term – a difficult choice he has been dreading having to make.
A change in leadership might derail California’s highly publicized Senate contest, which puts prominent Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee, Katie Porter, and Adam Schiff against one another before an all-party primary in March.
The threat of a government shutdown may put pressure on Newsom to nominate a replacement right away so that Democrats have a second vote to enact spending measures.
Since Democratic Alex Padilla was already the other senator from the state when Kamala Harris resigned her seat to accept the vice presidency in 2020, Newsom has been vocal about his desire to avoid selecting Feinstein’s replacement.
After facing criticism for choosing Padilla, a Latino guy, to succeed Harris, the only Black woman in the Senate, Newsom promised that he would choose a Black woman to fill any subsequent vacancies.
According to Newsom aides, if Feinstein had earlier followed calls to quit as her health began to deteriorate some years ago, that commitment would have likely been regarded as a bow to Lee. As a result, many people saw it as a nod to Lee.
But Newsom made that commitment over two years ago, well before Feinstein declared she would not seek re-election and before anyone declared their interest in challenging her.
And earlier this month, Newsom announced on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that he will instead pick someone to carry out the remaining term as a “interim appointment” rather than running for re-election. However, he implied that person would still be a Black lady.
“I don’t want to get involved in the primary,” Newsom declared. “It would be utterly unjust to the Democrats who have put in so much effort. There are only a few months left until that primary. I don’t want to upset that delicate equilibrium.
Following Newsom’s decision, Lee was furious and delivered a rare public criticism of her fellow Democrat, claiming in a press release and on TV news that appointing a Black woman to the Senate seat temporarily would be merely symbolic.
“I am troubled by the governor’s remarks,” Lee declared in a statement. “It is insulting to the countless Black women who have carried the Democratic Party to victory election after election that a Black woman should only be appointed as a caretaker to merely check a box.”
“Black women’s perspectives in the U.S. Senate are desperately required, and have been for more than a few months. Governor Newsom made the vow in the first place because he is aware of this, Lee continued. If the Governor intends to keep his word and designate a Black woman to the Senate, the people of California deserve the best option. not merely a flashy appointment.
Many California politicians, including her allies who ran a super PAC backing her race, were taken aback by Lee’s broads People familiar with their thinking confirmed to NBC News that two prominent California Democratic operatives left the super PAC over Lee’s criticism of Newsom because both were his advisors and felt they had to take a side, after Politico first reported their departure.
An appointment is generally regarded as Lee’s best chance of winning the Senate seat because Schiff and Porter are much ahead of Lee in the polls and in fundraising.
Naturally, Schiff and Porter’s supporters argue that elevating the third-place candidate before voters have an opportunity to cast their votes would be utterly unfair.
According to Newsom, the lobbying for Feinstein’s seat has been ongoing and impossible to avoid. I receive emails, calls, texts, and people stop me. I’m not joking,” Newsom stated at the beginning of the year. This is one of the most hotly debated subjects both now and when I lived in Jackson, Mississippi and Alabama.
No matter who Newsom names, California’s “jungle primary” system ensures that the two front-runners from any party in the March primary proceed to the general election. Given the state’s left leanings, this might result in a November showdown between two Democrats.
Additionally, any appointment of Newsom might lead to a fresh round of political musical chairs in California, where vacant Senate seats are extremely uncommon.
Schiff, Porter, and Lee all left their House seats vacant when they ran for the Senate; Porter’s is a particularly competitive district. Appointing them or any other elected Democrat to Feinstein’s seat could create additional vacancies that would also need to be filled.
Some Black women’s names that have been mentioned include non-profit executive Lateefah Simon, who is currently running for Lee’s House seat, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, and California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, who took over for Padilla in that position.
Former governors Jerry Brown, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and former senator Barbara Boxer have all been mentioned as potential candidates for Newsom to choose from, but if he decides to stick to his commitment to appoint a Black woman, none of those names would be in compliance.
However, individuals close to the governor and the contenders say they are currently focused on upholding Feinstein’s legacy and are not keen to explore the political ramifications of her passing.
In a statement released on Friday, Newsom claimed that “nobody simply possessed the strength, gravitas, and fierceness of Dianne Feinstein.” “Jennifer and I are devastated by her departure, and we will express our sorrow alongside her family during this trying time.