California Democrat Laphonza Butler, who will be sworn in Tuesday as the newest senator, worked to support and defeat many of her future colleagues as the leader of the abortion rights fundraising powerhouse EMILY’s List.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom selected Butler to replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who died last week at the age of 90.
Butler said no one can replace Feinstein, who served in the Senate for three decades. But she pledged to do her best to “honor her legacy and leadership by committing to work for women and girls, workers and unions, struggling parents, and all of California.”
