California Gov. Gavin Newsom has free rein to decide who he appoints to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein in the Senate — but he is constrained by his own promises and complex political constraints.
Feinstein, who died Thursday at age 90, has been a driving force in politics in California and her hometown of San Francisco for decades. Now it’s up to Newsom to decide who will succeed her until an election in November 2024.
He has already made it clear who he will appoint: a black woman. Vice President Kamala Harris is one of only two Black women to serve in the Senate in its history, and Newsom said flatly that if a vacancy occurs, he would appoint someone else.
“I have several names in mind.” “We have several names in mind — and the answer is yes,” he told MSNBC host Joy Reid in March when asked if he would nominate a black woman.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has the authority to appoint a successor to the late Senator Dianne Feinstein. He said given Feinstein’s health issues that he would nominate a Black woman for the seat. Three prominent state Democrats are already vying for the seat in the primary
There are several Black women to choose from in California politics. One of them, Rep. Barbara Lee, is already running for the seat, making matters even more complicated.
Others include Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, another former member of Congress. She was elected to office just last year.
As Feinstein struggled with health problems and missed votes, other names came up, including Secretary of State Shirley Weber, L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell and San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Politico reported in May.
Lee’s choice could lead to accusations of giving her an unfair advantage in the closely contested primary. That would give her a chance to run as an incumbent in 2024, a significant lead in a heavily Democratic state.
Newsom said this a few weeks ago on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“It would be completely unfair to the Democrats who have struggled,” he said. “This area code is just a few months away. ‘I don’t want to upset this.’
An LA Times/Berkeley IGS poll this week had California Rep. Adam Schiff leading at 20 percent. Schiff, a former House impeachment manager, was followed by Rep. Katie Porter with 17 percent and Lee with 7 percent.
Newsom called Senator Dianne Feinstein, who died aged 90, a ‘political giant’
California Sec. Shirley Weber from the State Department was mentioned as a possible candidate
LA Board of Supervisors member Holly J. Mitchell was also mentioned
Barbara Lee, D-Calif., is already running for the Senate seat, which could make it difficult for Newsom to appoint her
Former Rep. Karen Bass was elected mayor of LA last year
Rep. Katie Porter is battling Bass and Rep. Adam Schiff in the 2024 race for the vacant Feinstein seat
Representative Adam Schiff leads the early polls. He served in the Senate as the House impeachment manager
A state policy adviser, Michael Trujillo, floated the idea that Newsom would appoint Weber and later reappoint her to her post as secretary of state.
Schiff is an ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 83, who surprised politicians of both parties by announcing she would seek re-election next year. She currently holds the title of Speaker Emerita, but continues to have influence in her party and is an effective fundraiser.
Newsom appointed Sen. Alex Padilla when Harris was elected vice president in 2020. Padilla became the state’s first Latino representative in the Senate.
The longtime Democratic senator had suffered from health problems over the past year, including shingles, which kept her away from the Senate for a month. She also fell at her San Francisco home in August and was briefly hospitalized.
Feinstein remained in her Senate seat despite being forced to resign for health reasons. In the Senate, she was in a wheelchair and aides were seen giving her instructions on how to vote.
She was the fifth oldest person to ever serve in the Senate.
Newom is a growing force within his own party. The Biden campaign sent him to Simi Valley this week as an opposing speaker for the Republican presidential debate.
He will debate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Fox News host Sean Hannity’s show next month. He has also repeatedly denied his own interest in running for the White House, given polling problems for the 80-year-old Biden and fears among insiders that public perception of his age and vitality could hurt his chances.
Newsom called Feinstein a “political giant” in a statement Friday who has “broken down barriers and glass ceilings.”
He called her a “powerful, groundbreaking U.S. senator” and a “leader in times of tragedy and chaos.”
In words that underscore the challenge of choosing someone to succeed him, he said, “There is simply no one who has the poise, seriousness and fierceness of Dianne Feinstein.”