Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA), who replaced the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, announced she would not seek a full term next year after only serving in the congressional seat for roughly two weeks.
“I’ve spent the past 16 days pursuing my 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,” Butler said in a statement Thursday reported by POLITICO. “After considering those questions, I’ve decided not to run for Senate in the upcoming election. Knowing you can win a campaign doesn’t always mean you should run a campaign.”
Butler, who served as the president of the pro-abortion group EMILY’s List, told The New York Times she intended to be “the loudest, proudest champion of California” during the remainder of her term in office, but realized the position “is not the greatest use of my voice.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Butler to fill Feinstein’s seat following her death last month, noting Butler’s selection comes “without putting limitations or preconditions on his pick running for the seat in 2024.”
Newsom reportedly selected Butler after promising in 2021 to name a black woman to the role if Feinstein had retired early.
In announcing the replacement pick, Newsom’s office touted how Butler was a longtime senior adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris and, among other things, would be the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the Senate and the first black lesbian to openly serve in Congress.
Some pointed out records showing Butler lived in Maryland. Still, a spokesperson for Newsom said Butler was a longtime California resident who moved to the D.C. area when she became president of EMILY’s List and had already re-registered to vote in California.
“I believe leaders should have real clarity about why they’re in office and what they want to do with the power they hold,” she told the Times on Thursday, noting the reason behind her decision not to join the existing field of contenders for the party’s nominee in 2024.
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Still, without Butler, the race for the Senate seat includes top Democrats like Rep. Adam Schiff, Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Barbara Lee, and former Los Angeles Dodger Steve Garvey, who is running as a Republican.
Former Los Angeles news anchor Christina Pascucci announced her candidacy as an independent Democrat on Wednesday against the career politicians, pledging to appeal to California’s 40% Latino population and undecided voters while positioning herself as a moderate consensus builder.
The Federal Election Commission’s latest financial figures for the three leading Democrat candidates reportedly showed Schiff’s September bank records had about $32 million, Porter had $12 million, and Lee had $1.3 million.
The primary election for the seat is scheduled for March 5. The top two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the general election.
Daniel Chaitan contributed to this report.