California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s black lesbian pick to fill the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat is apparently not too impressed with the U.S. Senate.
Sen. Laphonza Butler told the New York Times in an interview she has realized being a U.S. senator is “not the greatest use of my voice” and that she will not run when her term expires next year. At the same time, the left-wing Democrat vowed to be “the loudest, proudest champion of California” while in office.
“I think I’m a typical millennial Gen-Xer who wants to offer my time and talents in ways that best speak to me,” Butler said. “Just because you can win a campaign doesn’t always mean you should run a campaign.”
Butler released a statement on X explaining her reasoning, repeating the claim that she would win if she decided to run but this wasn’t the “right” decision for her.
“I’ve always believed elected leaders should have real clarity about why they’re in office and what they want to do with the responsibility and power they have. I’ve spent the past 16 days pursuing my own clarity — what kind of life I want to have, what kind of service I want to offer and what kind of voice I want to bring forward,” Butler tweeted.
“After considering those questions I’ve decided not to run for a full term in the U.S. Senate,” she added. “Knowing you can win a campaign doesn’t always mean you should run a campaign. I know this will be a surprise to many because traditionally we don’t see those who have power let it go. It may not be the decision people expected but it’s the right one for me.”
do with the responsibility and power they have.
I’ve spent the past 16 days pursuing my own clarity – what kind of life I want to have, what kind of service I want to offer and what kind of voice I want to bring forward.— Laphonza Butler (@LaphonzaB) October 19, 2023
do with the responsibility and power they have.
I’ve spent the past 16 days pursuing my own clarity – what kind of life I want to have, what kind of service I want to offer and what kind of voice I want to bring forward.— Laphonza Butler (@LaphonzaB) October 19, 2023
After noting that she has “383 days to serve the people of California with every ounce of energy and effort that I have,” Butler concluded with a reference to the great Muhammad Ali.
“Muhammad Ali once said, ‘don’t count the days, make the days count.’ I intend to do just that,” she tweeted.
Butler would be up against three “high-profile” Democratic members of Congress, as the N.Y. Times characterized U.S. Reps. Katie Porter, Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee.
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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