The death of Dianne Feinstein, California鈥檚 groundbreaking senior senator for more than three decades, scrambling politics in both her home state and Washington, D.C.
With more than a year left in Feinstein鈥檚 term, Gov. Gavin Newsom must now appoint a replacement, a possibility he dismissed only weeks ago as a hypothetical 鈥� and a fraught prospect as a race to succeed Feinstein has already been underway for months.
A spokesperson for the governor said this morning that his office had no information yet about Newsom鈥檚 plans, or a timeline for his selection. , he praised Feinstein, a fellow Democrat, as 鈥渁 leader in times of tragedy and chaos.鈥�
鈥淪he was a political giant, whose tenacity was matched by her grace,鈥� Newsom said. 鈥淪he broke down barriers and glass ceilings, but never lost her belief in the spirit of political cooperation.鈥�
This will be the second appointment Newsom has made to the U.S. Senate. In December 2020, he chose to be California鈥檚 first Latino senator after then-Sen. Kamala Harris was elected vice president. Padilla won a full six-year term last year.
The decision infuriated some activists, who noted that Newsom鈥檚 choice had left the Senate once again without a Black woman. Months later, he to naming a Black woman to Feinstein鈥檚 seat if she did not finish her term.
That promise has come back to haunt Newsom this year as Feinstein鈥檚 health problems spilled into public view, including that forced her to step back from the Senate for several months in the spring. Rampant speculation about an appointment has trailed Newsom, especially in interviews with national news outlets.
Earlier this month, the governor told NBC鈥檚 鈥淢eet the Press鈥� that he would if he had to because he did not 鈥渨ant to get involved in the primary,鈥� even as he remained committed to choosing a Black woman.
His answer infuriated Rep. Barbara Lee, an Oakland Democrat running for Feinstein鈥檚 seat who trails Reps. Adam Schiff, a Burbank Democrat, and Katie Porter, an Irvine Democrat, in . Her allies have positioned Lee as a natural pick for an opening because the longtime congresswoman is one of California鈥檚 most prominent Black female politicians.
Lee slammed Newsom, 鈥渋nsulting to countless Black women.鈥� A spokesperson for the governor pushed back that he was talking about 鈥渁 hypothetical on top of a hypothetical.鈥� In the fallout, two of Newsom鈥檚 longtime political advisers .
That hypothetical is now real.
Lee praised Feinstein in an as 鈥渁 champion for our state鈥� and 鈥渢he voice of a political revolution for women,鈥� but did not broach the subject of her replacement. Other Black women officeholders who might be considered for the seat have also stayed resolutely silent so far.
After elevating Padilla to the Senate, Newsom to succeed him as California鈥檚 Secretary of State, making her the highest-ranking Black woman in state politics. Her spokesperson declined to comment on whether she would consider the interim appointment if asked, calling it 鈥渟peculative.鈥�
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who leads California鈥檚 largest city, that Newsom should fill a vacancy with Lee. Her office did not respond to a message.
London Breed, the mayor of Feinstein鈥檚 hometown San Francisco who 鈥渁 real blow to the African American community,鈥� is . At a press conference following Feinstein鈥檚 death, Breed said the immediate focus should be the senator鈥檚 legacy and the conversation about her replacement 鈥渃ould be saved for another day.鈥�
Rep. Maxine Waters, a Los Angeles Democrat, is another longtime member of Congress. Her office did not immediately respond to multiple messages, but Waters that she had no interest in the appointment and Newsom should choose Lee.
Feinstein鈥檚 death comes with intense pressure not just for Newsom, but also Senate Democrats, who have a bare majority in the chamber.
Feinstein held a seat on the judiciary committee, which approves judicial nominations. Many Democrats, , now fear that Republicans will , deadlocking the committee and preventing President Biden from appointing any more judges in his first term. Several Senate Republicans said they .
Bipartisan tributes poured out of California and Washington for Feinstein, a more moderate Democrat who nevertheless led on gun control and an investigation of CIA torture during her Senate tenure. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Bakersfield Republican, to half-staff in her honor.
鈥淒ianne made her mark on everything from national security to the environment to protecting civil liberties,鈥� Biden said . 鈥淪he鈥檚 made history in so many ways, and our country will benefit from her legacy for generations.鈥�
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