Laphonza Butler is “Ready to Serve” as California’s Newest Senator

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 3 October 2023

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Democratic strategist Laphonza Butler to the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Dianne Feinstein, who died on Thursday. Butler is the president of Emily’s List, a political action committee that helps elect women who support abortion rights. She’s also a former labor leader, advisor to vice-president Kamala Harris, and University of California regent. When she is sworn in, Newsom will have fulfilled his promise to appoint a Black woman, and Butler will be the first openly LGBT senator from the state. We’ll learn more about Butler – who tweeted Monday that she is “ready to serve” – and what her appointment means for the U.S. Senate race currently underway. Guests: Aimee Allison, founder and president, She the People - A national organization dedicated to building the political power of women of color Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED; co-host, KQED's Political Breakdown show Melanie Mason, senior political correspondent covering California politics, Politico Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	Support for Forum comes from Rancho La Puerta, a wellness resort on 4,000 acres in the mountains of Baja, California, just 45 minutes from San Diego.
0:09.4	Family owned and operated since 1940, Rancho La Pueerta offers adult summer camp-like vacations for anyone who enjoys hiking, mindfulness, and fitness classes.
0:19.8	Special rates and offers are available for summer stays and
0:23.3	first-time guests. Learn more at Rancho LePuerta.com. Support for Forum comes from Broadway
0:29.4	SF, presenting Parade, the musical revival based on a true story. From three-time Tony-winning composer
0:36.8	Jason Robert Brown comes the story of Leo and Lucille Frank, a new story. From three-time Tony-winning composer Jason Robert Brown comes the story of Leo and
0:39.9	Lucille Frank, a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in Georgia. When Leo is accused
0:46.6	of an unspeakable crime, it propels them into an unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice,
0:53.6	and devotion.
0:55.2	The riveting and gloriously hopeful parade plays the Orphium Theater for three weeks only, May 20th through June 8th.
1:03.4	Tickets on sale now at Broadway, sF.com.
1:08.3	From KQED.
1:09.8	Music From KQED. From KQED.
1:44.5	From KQED in San Francisco, I'm Mina Kim. Coming up on forum, Will She Run? That's one of the questions surrounding LaFonsea Butler, Governor Gavin Newsom's pick to fill the vacancy left by the death last week of Senator Diane Feinstein. Butler, a former labor leader and advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign,
1:49.2	has been serving as the president of Emily's List, working to help elect women who support abortion rights.
1:50.6	Our bodies belong to us.
1:52.9	Our freedoms are not up for debate.
1:55.4	This hour, we learn more about Lafonza Butler and how shall represent California
1:59.3	and get your reactions to the historic
2:01.4	swearing in today of the state's first black woman and out lesbian senator. Join us.
2:11.0	Welcome to Forum. I'm Mina Kim. California will be represented by LaFonza Butler in the U.S. Senate.
2:18.1	After Governor Gavin Newsom announced he'd chosen the 44-year-old Democratic strategist to fill the late Senator Diane Feinstein's seat,
	...

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