Ms. Butler, who was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom just weeks ago to
fill Dianne Feinstein’s seat, said she had realized that “this is
not the greatest use of my voice.”
Laphonza Butler, who was appointed 18 days ago to fill the Senate
seat left vacant by Dianne Feinstein’s death, said on Thursday that
she would not run for the office next year, clearing the way for a
truly open race in California that features three Democratic
congressional members and a former Major League Baseball star.
In an interview with The New York Times, Senator Butler said that
she intended to be “the loudest, proudest champion of California” in
the 383 days remaining in her term in office, but that she had
realized “this is not the greatest use of my voice.”
Ms. Butler has never been elected to office and was appointed by
Gov. Gavin Newsom less than three weeks ago, helping him to fulfill
his promise to name a Black woman to complete Ms. Feinstein’s term.
Ms. Butler, 44, spent nearly two decades at the Service Employees
International Union.
Now the truth emerges. This was a political payoff appointment to a
Democrat supporting union.
Government jobs should not be permitted to unionize.
https://nytimes.com/2023/10/19/us/laphonza-butler-senate-
california.html