Governor of California Gavin Newsom
Gavin NewsomNewsom says he has “names in mind” to nominate an African American woman to the Senate if Feinstein retires. Julie Su is the second right choice to help lead the Biden Department of Labor. Californians divided by Newsom recall: vote MORE (D) said on Monday night that he would nominate a black woman for the United States Senate if Sen. Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Emiel FeinsteinNewsom says she has ‘names in mind’ to nominate an African American woman to the Senate if Feinstein retires Democratic senators urge Biden to take executive action on ghost weapons. Democrats fear the Senate is the graveyard on Biden’s agenda MORE (D) resign before his term expires in 2024.
Vice President Harris’s departure from the upper chamber left him without a single black woman.
“We have several names in mind and the answer is yes,” Newsom said when MSNBC’s Joy Reid asked if he would replace Feinstein with a black woman.
Feinstein reiterated on Tuesday that he plans to end his term, and sources said they see no signs that she is interested in giving up.
“Please, we are good friends,” Feinstein told reporters on Capitol Hill, speaking about Newsom. “I don’t think he meant it the way some people thought.”
Newsom used Harris’ departure to nominate the senator. Alex Padilla
Alex PadillaNewsom says he has ‘names in mind’ to nominate an African American woman to the Senate if Feinstein retires. Californians divided by Newsom recall: The Hill’s Morning Report poll – Presented by Facebook – Senate Democrats face unit test; Tanden’s appointment falls MORE (D), the first Latin to represent a state in which Latinos constitute a plurality of the population. His decision was always tense and sure to irritate several pillars of the Democratic coalition.
“It was definitely a blow to the black community,” said Taisha Brown, who runs the California Democratic Party’s Black Caucus. “We really think he would support the idea. Precipitation was difficult for some people. ”
Newsom’s comments on Monday come at a time when he fights for a united Democratic coalition in the face of a revocation effort that threatens his control of the government.
“The governor recognizes that women in America are the backbone of this country, but more importantly, especially at this time, that black women are the strength of the Democratic Party,” said Rep. Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D), who represents part of from South Los Angeles.
In interviews on Tuesday, half a dozen California Democratic strategists and elected officials pointed to six black women who may be on the Newsom list.
Rep. Barbara Lee
Barbara Jean LeeDefense of the night: Republican Senators demand answers about prolonged deployment of the Guard and fencing on Capitol Hill | Guard costs estimated at 1M | House panel to revoke the 2002 war warrant House panel to revoke the 2002 war warrant in the ‘coming weeks’ We must decolonize our global health systems – it’s time to repeal the Helms Amendment MORE
Lee, a former president of Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Progressive Caucus, represented Oakland for 23 years after winning a special election to replace the legendary Rep. Ron Dellums (D).
In Congress, she was the only member to vote against the 2001 authorization to use military force after the 9/11 attacks. She is the only black woman in the Democratic leadership of the House, where she co-chairs the Steering and Policy Committee.
Elevating Lee wouldn’t put his district at stake – President biden
Joe Biden’s Morning ReportThe Hill – Presented by Facebook – Split screen: Biden sells stimulus; The GOP points out that the border RNC will accompany Biden as he promotes the COVID-19 relief bill. Dems’ momentum hits the tide over infrastructure plans won 89 percent of the vote there in 2020. But if Newsom wants to choose a replacement who would build a long career in the Senate, Lee, 74, may not be the ideal candidate.
Rep. Karen Bass
Karen Ruth BassDemocrats discuss COVID-19 vaccine strategy The George Floyd bill offers justice for the Black America House approves George Floyd Justice in Policing Act MORE
Bass just ended his two years as president of Congressional Black Caucus, and Biden briefly considered her as a possible candidate before deciding for Harris. Bass, 67, was president of the state assembly before winning a seat in Congress to represent the Los Angeles area. She chairs subcommittees within the Judiciary and Foreign Affairs panels.
Bass has a reputation for working with Republicans, both in Sacramento, where he worked well with the then governor. Arnold Schwarzenegger in the depths of the last recession and in Washington.
His seat would be no more at risk than Lee’s; Biden beat the Inglewood district and Los Angeles with 84 percent of the vote in 2020.
California sources say Lee and Bass are probably favorites for the seat, although some have given Bass a head start.
“Each elected black officer is uniting around these two. Any of those choices would be excellent, ”said Jones-Sawyer.
Race of the Mayor of San Francisco in London
Breed, 46, grew up in public housing projects in San Francisco, a city she now leads as her mayor. She is the first black woman to rule the city, and only the second black mayor after Willie Brown.
In her role, she prioritized the homeless crisis in San Francisco, although much of last year was consumed by the city’s response to the coronavirus crisis. A few days before Newsom had trouble attending an unmasked dinner at the Michelin-starred French Laundry, Breed attended a birthday party there, too.
If anything is in the way of Breed, it could be California’s complicated regional policy. Newsom, himself a former mayor of San Francisco, may find it more politically palatable to choose an Angelino over a Bay Area resident colleague.
Holly Mitchell
Mitchell, 56, spent a decade in the state legislature before winning the election to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in 2020. She chaired the state Senate Budget Committee, a no small feat in a state where the budget reaches more than $ 200 billion annually.
Mitchell has progressive good faith to match Lee and Bass. She came into conflict with then Gov. Jerry Brown (D), a zealous coin cutter, over money for social programs.
Mitchell is also close to Newsom. And being friendly to the only person who gets a vote is helpful – ask another Newsom close friend, Padilla.
Malia Cohen
Cohen, 43, is the youngest woman on the list. But it represents far more constituents than anyone else. About 10 million Californians live in the 23 counties that Cohen oversees as a member of the State Equalization Council, which oversees tax collection.
Before gaining her seat on the board, she replaced Breed as chairman of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, where she served since 2011. Prior to entering electoral politics, Cohen headed the San Francisco Employee Retirement System, where she moved $ 100 million in pension investments for a fund index that did not include fossil fuel companies.
Cohen also has a direct line with Newsom: the two share a San Francisco-based consulting team.
Lateefah Simon
She may have the best chances of anyone on the list, but Simon, 44, is perhaps the only candidate to be considered a genius. At 26, she was the youngest woman to receive the MacArthur Fellowship, also called a genius scholarship, for her work with the Center for the Development of Young Women.
Simon worked for Harris at the San Francisco district attorney’s office, where he oversaw reentry programs for young offenders.
Now a member of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system’s board of directors, Simon runs the Akonadi Foundation, a nonprofit civil rights and racial justice organization based in Oakland.