Recently appointed California Sen. Laphonza Butler has announced that she will not run to retain the seat in next year’s election. Butler was appointed earlier this month by Gov. Gavin Newsom to serve out the remainder of the term of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who died on Sept. 29. Her announcement ends weeks of speculation about her intentions and resets the race to permanently replace Feinstein.
In a series of tweets posted on Thursday, Butler explained her thought process and ultimate decision not to run. Recounting how she had “spent my life working for working men and women” in reference to her career of labor and political activism, Butler said that she has “always believed elected leaders should have real clarity about why they’re in office and what they want to do with the responsibility and power they have.”
do with the responsibility and power they have.
I’ve spent the past 16 days pursuing my own clarity – what kind of life I want to have, what kind of service I want to offer and what kind of voice I want to bring forward.— Laphonza Butler (@LaphonzaB) October 19, 2023
Along with announcing that she has “decided not to run for a full term in the US Senate,” Butler wrote that “knowing you can win a campaign doesn’t always mean you should run a campaign.”
After considering those questions I’ve decided not to run for a full term in the US Senate. Knowing you can win a campaign doesn’t always mean you should run a campaign. I know this will be a surprise to many because traditionally we don’t see those who have power let it go.
— Laphonza Butler (@LaphonzaB) October 19, 2023
Butler’s announcement comes after weeks of speculation about her intentions and discussion about how her potential run might impact the race. Prior to Feinstein’s death, Newsom had pledged to appoint a Black woman to replace the ailing senator if she did not finish her term. Newsom also indicated that he did not want to interfere with the 2024 race for the seat, which attracted significant attention after Feinstein announced she would not run for reelection. Instead, Newsom had indicated that he would appoint someone who would only serve on a temporary basis. This drew a sharp rebuke from California congresswoman Barbara Lee, one of the candidates in the 2024 race, who criticized the governor’s plan to appoint a “token” Black woman. When Butler was chosen by Newsom, it was not clear whether she had agreed not to run for the seat, in line with the governor’s stated intentions. Butler did not mention Newsom’s previous stipulation, instead presenting the decision not to run as one she made in consultation with her family.
Butler’s decision not to enter the 2024 race is likely to disappoint supporters; The New York Times reported that members of the California Democratic Party saw her as a strong candidate despite her short time in office and the already crowded field of candidates. So far, the most prominent candidates in the race include Lee and two other California Democratic members of the House of Representatives, Adam Schiff and Katie Porter. A number of other candidates are also in the race, including Democratic businesswoman Lexi Reese and former professional baseball player Steve Garvey on the Republican side. Butler said she hasn’t given much thought about whether she will endorse one of the candidates, which could result in a significant boost, given Butler’s popularity. “I have a great deal of respect for all the people who are running but I haven’t made any decisions yet,” she said, according to the Times.
Despite not running for a full term, Butler’s current appointment places her in the Senate for over a year as she fulfills Feinstein’s term. Regardless of whether she ultimately endorses one of the candidates seeking to follow her in the role, Butler will have significant time to make her own impact as one of the few Black women to ever serve in the U.S. Senate.
