Gov. Gavin Newsom to appoint Laphonza Butler to Dianne Feinstein Senate seat

California Governor Gavin Newsom has selected someone to fill the Senate seat left vacant following Sen. Dianne Feinstein's death last Friday. Newsom is set to appoint EMILY'S List President Laphonza Butler to the position, the Governor's office confirmed to ABC News.

Newsom previously pledged to fill any Senate vacancy with a Black woman, making the comment on MSNBC's "The Reid Out," with host Joy Reid in 2021.

“If in fact Dianne Feinstein were to retire, will you nominate an African American woman to restore the seat [since] Kamala Harris is no longer in the United States Senate?” Reid asked. “And do you have a name in mind?”

Newsom replied: “We have multiple names in mind and the answer is yes.”

Many thought he might appoint Rep. Barbara Lee -- the only Black woman of the three high-profile Democrats running for Feinstein's seat.

But on NBC's "Meet the Press" earlier this month, Newsom said that he would not appoint any of the three, a group that includes Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff as well as Lee, to the seat if it became vacant.

Newsom said he would instead make an "interim appointment" to replace Feinstein so as to not "tip the balance" in the competitive Senate primary.

EMILY's List is a political action committee that works to elect Democrat pro-choice women.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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