Friends -

Last night, I announced my intention to appoint Laphonza Butler to complete Senator Dianne Feinstein's term in the United States Senate.

I think you are going to love Laphonza in the Senate, and I hope you’ll stick around for a second to learn a bit more about her as she takes office.

[Tweet from Gavin Newsom:'I'm proud to announce California's new United States Senator -- Laphonza Butler. As we mourn the enormous loss of Sen. Feinstein, the very freedoms she fought for -- reproductive freedom, equal protection, and safety from gun violence -- have never been under greater assault. Laphonza has spent her entire career fighting for women and girls and has been a fierce advocate for working people. She will make history -- becoming the first Black lesbian to openly serve in the U.S. Senate. From her time as President of EMILY's List to leading the state's largest labor union, she has always stood up for what is right and has led with her heart and her values. I have no doubt she will carry the baton left by Senator Feinstein, continue to break glass ceilings, and fight for all Californians in Washington.]

Laphonza was raised by her mother, a caregiver. She knows first-hand the importance of a fair wage and representation.

Before this appointment, Laphonza was serving as president of EMILY's List.

For those of you who aren't familiar with EMILY's List, it is the largest organization dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women to public office. Laphonza was the first woman of color and mother to lead the group.

For more than a decade, Laphonza also served as the president of the largest labor union in California — SEIU Local 2015 — a union representing more than 325,000 nursing home and home-care workers throughout the state.

Laphonza will also make some history when she is sworn in to serve as the first openly LGBTQ+ person to represent California in the Senate and the first Black lesbian to openly serve in Congress in American history. She follows in the footsteps of Vice President Kamala Harris as the second Black woman to represent California in the Senate and the 3rd ever in the history of the Senate.

Laphonza has always been an advocate for women and girls and a fighter for working people, and she'll represent us proudly in the United States Senate.

As we mourn the incredible loss of Senator Feinstein, the very freedoms she fought for — reproductive freedom, equal protection, and safety from gun violence — have never been under greater assault. Laphonza will carry the baton left by Senator Feinstein, continue to break glass ceilings, and fight for all Californians in Washington D.C.

Thank you for reading,

Gavin Newsom

FOLLOW LAPHONZA ON TWITTER: [link removed]

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👉🏻 Hi. Please don’t click away just yet. 🇺🇸

All across the country, rights are being rolled-back in real-time by Republicans with a zest for demonization. We are going to go on the road and on offense — in red states too — and take the fight to statehouses, local communities, and electoral battlegrounds to save our democracy.

If it sounds worth it that Democrats fight back everywhere rights are under attack – even in Red States – we are asking you to contribute $20 to Gavin Newsom’s Campaign for Democracy today. It all adds up when we’re all chipping in.

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