Monday, October 2, 2023, is a proud day for SEIU 2015 and hundreds of thousands of caregivers across California as our dynamic and inspiring former President of over a decade, Laphonza Butler, was appointed by Governor Newsom to fill the seat of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Laphonza’s tenure as President of SEIU 2015 and SEIU California was inspirational and impactful—she achieved historic victories, including the passage of the nation’s first $15 statewide minimum wage that changed the lives of millions of Californians, for which Laphonza’s leadership was honored by President Obama. At this pivotal moment, pro-worker voices like Laphonza Butler are absolutely imperative to ensure progress for working families. We look forward to seeing the impact we know Laphonza will have in her new role.
October 4, 2023
KQED.org: Sen. Laphonza Butler Is an Expert in Labor Issues. But What About Climate?
Organizations across California came out of the woodwork to praise Laphonza Butler as she ascended to the U.S. Senate this week, touting her long record on progressive issues and fighting for working class people. But as the newly sworn-in senator begins her tenure, environmentalists in California are wondering what her appointment means for climate action in this state. Read the full article here.
October 2, 2023
NBC Bay Area: A closer look: Laphonza Butler sworn in as Senator
NBC Bay Area’s Raj Mathai spoke to Arnulfo De La Cruz, president of SEIU 2015, and a former colleague of Senator Laphonza Butler, about the newest California Senator.
Spectrum News 1: Laphonza Butler says she’s ‘honored’ by Newsom’s nomination to replace Feinstein in Senate
California Gov. Gavin Newsom will name Laphonza Butler, a Democratic strategist and adviser to Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a spokesman in his office said Sunday. Read full article online here.
San Francisco Chronicle: Laphonza Butler advised a who’s who of politicians and causes. Now she takes center stage
Read article online at the San Francisco Chronicle.
Fox 2 – KTUV: Gov. Newsom speaks about appointment of Laphonza Butler to Senate seat
It was an appointment that took political pundits by surprise: Laphonza Butler is a former labor leader, a political consultant, and someone who has never held office herself. Now she’ll be filling the Senate seat of the late Dianne Feinstein. Read full article online here.
Vox: Who is Laphonza Butler, California’s new senator?
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has picked Butler, the president of Emily’s List, as the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s successor. Read full article online here.
The San Francisco Standard: Who is Laphonza Butler, California’s Newest Senator?
Butler is a longtime political player who leads the Democratic fundraising powerhouse EMILY’s List but isn’t a household name. So who is she? Here are a few things to know about California’s next senator. Read the full article online here.
AP News: California governor names Laphonza Butler, former Kamala Harris adviser, to Feinstein Senate seat
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has selected Laphonza Butler, a Democratic strategist and adviser to Kamala Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign, to fill the U.S. Senate seat made vacant by the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Read full article here.
The 19th: Laphonza Butler tapped to fill Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat
California Gov. Gavin Newsom picked the leader of EMILY’s List for the seat, fulfilling a promise to name a Black woman to the Senate. Read full article here.
People.com: Laphonza Butler Appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom as Successor to Dianne Feinstein’s Senate Seat
The Democratic strategist and president of EMILY’s List will make history as the first Black lesbian to openly serve in the U.S. Senate. Read full article here.
Politico: A new senator for California
Less than 72 hours after news of Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s death broke, California is poised to have a new, trail-blazing U.S. Senator. Gov. Gavin Newsom will appoint EMILY’s List President Laphonza Butler to temporarily fill the late senator’s seat. Read full article here.
Politico: Playbook: A new senator, and a new showdown
EMILY’s List President LAPHONZA BUTLER will be named California’s junior senator later today by Gov. GAVIN NEWSOM. The appointment fulfills Newsom’s pledge to appoint a Black woman to succeed DIANNE FEINSTEIN, and she will also be the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the Senate. Read full article here.
October 1, 2023
Bloomberg.com: Newsom Picks Laphonza Butler to Replace Feinstein in Senate
California Governor Gavin Newsom will appoint Emily’s List President Laphonza Butler to fill the remainder of late Senator Dianne Feinstein’s term, making her the only Black woman in the current US Senate and just the third in its history. Read full article here.
The Washington Post: Newsom taps Emily’s List leader to fill Feinstein’s Senate seat
Three other Democrats representing California in the House are vying to permanently fill the seat in the November 2024 election. Read full article here.
Business Insider: Gavin Newsom appoints Laphonza Butler to fill Senate seat left empty by Dianne Feinstein
California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed EMILY’s List president Laphonza Butler to fill the Senate seat left vacant after the death of Dianne Feinstein. Read full article here.
Variety: Calif. Gov Gavin Newsom Set to Name Laphonza Butler to Fill Dianne Feinstein’s Senate Seat: Reports
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is set to name longtime labor leader and political organizer Laphonza Butler to fill the U.S. Senate seat left open by the death last week of pioneering legislator Dianne Feinstein. Read the full article here.
CapRadio.org: Newsom names Laphonza Butler to fill Feinstein’s Senate vacancy
The governor told reporters Monday in San Francisco that Butler is “next-level qualified” and “the only choice” for the job. Read full article here.
CalMatters: Newsom picks Laphonza Butler, political ally and power player, to replace Feinstein
Laphonza Butler, a longtime political strategist with close ties to organized labor and Gov. Gavin Newsom, will take the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat in the U.S. Senate following her death Friday. Read the full article here.
New York Times: Newsom Names Emily’s List President as Feinstein Successor
Laphonza Butler will fill the Senate vacancy left by the death of Dianne Feinstein, the governor announced Sunday. Read the full article here.
NBC News: Gov. Gavin Newsom chooses Laphonza Butler to fill Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat
Butler is the head of the group EMILY’s List, which works to elect Democratic women. She will be the third Black woman in history to serve in the Senate. Read the full article here.
Axios: EMILY’s List head Laphonza Butler picked to fill Feinstein’s Senate seat
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has selected Laphonza Butler, the president of EMILY’s List, to fill the U.S. Senate seat held by late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, his office confirmed to Axios. Read the full article here.
Politico: Newsom picks Laphonza Butler as Feinstein replacement
California’s governor chose a labor leader turned power player to serve in the Senate, and an adviser told POLITICO there were no preconditions about whether she could run in 2024. Read the full article here.
Los Angeles Times: Who is Laphonza Butler? What to know about Newsom’s pick for Feinstein’s Senate seat
On Sunday evening, news dropped that Gov. Gavin Newsom planned to fill Dianne Feinstein’s vacated Senate seat with political insider and Emily’s List President Laphonza Butler. Butler, 44, is the first out gay person to represent California in the Senate. Her career spans the political, corporate, academic and labor worlds. Read the full article here.