Laphonza Butler took the oath of office as a U.S. senator, succeeding the late Dianne Feinstein and becoming the first Black and openly LGBTQ woman to serve in the Senate. It is the that both U.S. senators are people of color.
Two hours later, Kevin McCarthy lost the speaker鈥檚 gavel 鈥� the first speaker ever to be ousted by a vote of the House.
Both moments were dramatic, in very different ways.
Butler was escorted into the Senate chamber by Sen. Alex Padilla of California and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York. Vice President Kamala Harris while Butler鈥檚 wife, Neneki Lee, held the Bible. After she took the oath, Butler was greeted by cheers and applause.
During his floor speech, Schumer called Butler鈥檚 appointment to the Senate a 鈥渉istoric moment.鈥�
鈥淚 can鈥檛 help but think how proud Senator Feinstein would be seeing someone as brilliant, as accomplished, as history making as Laphonza Butler,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he is going to be one great senator.鈥�
Schumer said he plans to speak at Feinstein鈥檚 memorial service in San Francisco on Thursday. Other speakers include San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Harris, U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Feinstein鈥檚 granddaughter, .
Butler has not said much about whether she will try to keep her new office in the 2024 election 鈥� a decision . On Monday, she that she was surprised to be and had not considered running for public office before. But she wanted to honor Feinstein鈥檚 legacy before deciding on the race, she said.
Butler to the San Francisco Chronicle on Tuesday, and said she plans to focus on abortion rights and gun control while in the Senate.
- Butler, in the Chronicle interview: 鈥淚t鈥檚 day one, and while it has been an incredibly exciting day one, I am just so focused on making sure that I鈥檓 able to honor the legacy and life of Sen. Dianne Feinstein.鈥�
At the same time as Butler鈥檚 swearing-in, on the other side of the Capitol, the House was debating whether to oust McCarthy. It eventually voted 216-210 to do so ( and nearly all Democrats in the majority) 鈥� the .
The Bakersfield Republican took the speaker鈥檚 gavel from another Californian, Democrat Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, just in January and after Republicans , helping the party take control of the House.
While a hard-right Republican faction led by Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida called for McCarthy鈥檚 ouster, his GOP defenders criticized the move. 鈥淲e need to be the no-drama option for America,鈥� said .
That isn鈥檛 happening. There will now be drama until a new speaker is chosen, and beyond.
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