The demise of the late Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif. this past week has left an open spot in representation by a Californian in the U.S. Congress. Her last vote was on Wednesday morning before she passed on Thursday at age 90.
AP noted that Feinstein’s death leaves Senate Democrats with a 50-49 majority in the chamber.
Already speculation as to who will replace Feinstein in the Senate is circulating. The New York Times reported Friday that Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom will select someone to fill Feinstein’s term through the end of 2024.
The replacement will be chosen by California Governor and extreme liberal Gavin Newsom. Previously, in 2021, Newsome stated publicly that if he had to appoint someone in a case like this, he would choose a black woman. He stated the intention earlier this month. Such a racist remark is seen as normal, apparently, by Democrats.
He has now stated that he would not select any of the declared candidates — Reps. Barbara Lee, Katie Porter, and Adam Schiff — for the seat. The governor has noted he did not want to give any of the declared candidates an advantage in the Democrat primary by having one of them fill the seat until then.
Four other names have been floated regarding a possible appointment to fill the remaining term of the late Sen. Feinstein, and possibly others. Names that have been openly discussed to finish Feinstein’s term include Holly Mitchell, a Los Angeles county supervisor; Angela Glover Blackwell, a civil rights lawyer in Oakland and the founder of PolicyLink, a research and advocacy nonprofit group; and Shirley Weber, the California secretary of state, according to the Times, reports Newsmax.
The Associated Press has stated that another in the running is liberal television mogul Oprah Winfrey. AP noted that Winfrey’s name has been mentioned by Newsome.
AP continued that “Placing a celebrity in the seat could also help Newsom avoid picking favorites among actual declared senate candidates.”
In 2018, Winfrey was in the news as speculatio about her political goals raised questions about a run for the White House in 2020. At that time, Winfrey had delivered a speech at the Golden Globes in which she eleuded to politics by predicting a time when women “won’t have to say ‘me too’ ever again.”
Then, Winfrey publicly denied having presidential ambitions but there was, however, no statement that political ambitions in general were not on the table.
CNN reported in 2018, however, that Winfrey was in fact taking a presidential bid seriously.
The speculation surrounding Winfrey’s possible appointment by Newsom centers around the possibility that Newsome will choose not an active political individual, but a “caretaker” figure who will not be present as a candidate in the next election but will hold the office until that time.
AP noted that Winfrey’s name has been circulating in that regard and gossip has “floated in California circles” as that caretaker pick.
Once again referring to race regarding the appointment, Newsom has pointed to the fact that there are no Black women in the Senate since Kamala Harris stepped down to assume the job as vice president. But the governor has come under criticism for his comments about appointing a Black woman.
At least one of the California current representatives is pointing out the probematic remark by Newsome. “I am troubled by the governor’s remarks,” Lee said in a statement. “The idea that a Black woman should be appointed only as a caretaker to simply check a box is insulting to countless Black women across this country who have carried the Democratic Party to victory election after election.”
Schiff was a member of the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, protest at the Capitol and still has not gotten to the bottom of the events, choosing to try to pin blame, unsucessfully, by the few unruly participants on former President Trump.
It is uncertain at this point if any other candidates will enter the race as a result of Feinstein’s death. as Newsome has made his intention to focus on race clear, other names have been mentioned.
Lateefah Simon, who is a black female, is currently on the Bay area Rapid Transit board of directors and is set to challenge Lee in the next election. simon previously worked for Kamala Harris.
Another black female that has come up is that of San Francisco Mayor London Breed, who has her hands full with ?San Francisco’s homelessness and crime.
It does seem that newsome has made clear he will pick a black female, and certainly one who will be certain to vote on the liberal side of Senate issues. Given that Winfrey’s name is circulation for the second time in national politics, it is worth keeping any eye on the appointment.
Winfrey has been in the news regarding the fires in Maui, as one of the millionaires who stands to benefit from the destruction of native citizen housing on the island.
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