Political speculation about the future of Senator Laphonza Butler — the short-term replacement appointed to the chamber after Dianne Feinstein’s death — has been rife in political circles. Will he go back to California and take office? Be the next leader of the Democratic National Committee?
Asked on Saturday afternoon if he saw himself pursuing that prospect, Butler, 45, was clearly too much for a politician.
“I don’t,” he said in an interview after the send-off celebration at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. “We have an incredible talent of thinkers and strategists who will get the job done.”
Butler was appointed to the Senate seat 13 months ago by Gov. Gavin Newsom, after gaining national acclaim as an influential labor chief in Los Angeles and president of Emily’s List, a national political organization focused on raising money to elect pro-choice Democratic women. . The post will be a springboard for a strong run to retain the seat in the November election had Butler chosen to pursue that route. But he decided against that choice early, leading Rep. Adam Schiff to win the seat. He is expected to be sworn in in mid-December.
Butler has started a farewell tour of California, and there is a meeting with supporters of the Los Angeles area. The event featured a warm and open onstage conversation with Mayor Karen Bass, a longtime ally.
Butler describes the Senate as a “foreign land” and recounts the unexpected challenges that have marked his tenure, including Hamas’ stealth attack on Israel in October 2023 and the bloody war that ensued; the Senate’s rejection of House Republicans’ impeachment of the state’s Democratic homeland security secretary; and was asked to vote four times to end the government shutdown.
“However, when I found out 14 months ago that I would accept the appointment, what I wanted if I said yes was to pay back everything that had been given to me,” he told the audience, which included local elected officials, labor. activists and other Democratic constituencies.
US Sen. Laphonza Butler, left, shares a laugh with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass during the send-off event at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center.
(Seema Mehta / Los Angeles Times)
Butler talked about working with Republicans to find areas of collaboration on shared goals, such as maternal health issues with Alabama Senator Katie Britt and agriculture issues with Iowa Senator Charles E. Grassley.
Butler and Bass spoke about the shared experience of being among the few black women who serve in Congress. Butler said some fellow senators seemed surprised because they admired how articulate he was, and told him to hear “Blik Jemima blatant” jokes. Bass remembers his House colleagues often being confused by Congresswomen Marsha Fudge of Ohio and Barbara Lee of Oakland, who are also black.
Butler, who co-chaired Vice President Kamala Harris’ unsuccessful White House bid, then spoke to reporters about the role of race and gender in the presidential race. She said that although stereotypes and barriers still exist when voting for women of color, it would be “dishonest” to blame Harris’ loss solely on racism or misogyny.
“I don’t discount what people think are barriers that we haven’t been able to overcome as a country for women in the highest office,” Butler said. But “if you know, more than 70% of Americans feel that the country is on the wrong track, not just in terms of race and gender.”
He said the Democratic Party needs to understand why many of the policies it espouses that actually help the American people don’t seem to resonate with voters.
“The election results tell us there’s a problem with messaging,” Butler said. “There is a problem with connecting what they say, and what people feel and hope for the government and for their own lives and communities.”
Butler is less certain about what he will do next.
“I don’t know. I will be the mother of a 10-year-old child who has taken this new habit of competitive spirit,” she said, adding that she does not intend to return to California from Washington, DC, anytime soon – certainly not before her daughter finishes the school year.
“He’s from the fourth grade. I’m not going to take him from the fourth grade, that’s for sure,” he said. “We’ll find out after that. But, you know, my life’s desire will not disturb him.
