Laphonza Butler, the first openly LGBTQ+ Black U.S. senator, officially left office on Monday after a historic 14-month tenure representing California in the Senate.
Appointed in October 2023 by Governor Gavin Newsom following the passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein, Butler’s time in office was marked by her unwavering commitment to youth development, reproductive rights, and voting access.
Butler, the third Black woman to serve in the Senate, spent her brief tenure breaking barriers and building coalitions. In February, she made headlines by reading banned books with Black and LGBTQ+ themes on the Senate floor, amplifying marginalized voices and resisting censorship efforts sweeping conservative states.
“Because I am a Black woman, because I am a lesbian, because I am myself — a Black woman warrior poet doing work — who has come to ask you, are you doing yours?” Butler said, quoting Audre Lorde.
Championing Progressive Causes
During her time in office, Butler introduced 33 bills focused on critical issues, including behavioral health for adolescents, voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals, and reducing maternal mortality.
She worked across party lines, partnering with Republican senators on measures like maternal health research and youth opioid prevention, even as she maintained her progressive values.
“Laphonza was an organizer at heart, and she brought that same spirit to the Senate,” said Senator Alex Padilla, her California colleague.
Butler also worked to confirm Judge Anne Hwang to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the first Korean American to hold that position.
Navigating Challenges
Despite her impactful tenure, Butler’s appointment drew criticism from some Democrats who had hoped Governor Newsom would choose Congresswoman Barbara Lee, an active candidate for Feinstein’s seat.
Critics argued that Newsom’s choice reflected intra-party divisions and concerns about public perceptions of progressivism in California.
Republicans also scrutinized Butler for residing in Maryland at the time of her appointment, though she had long been a California homeowner.
Reflecting on Legacy
In her farewell speech on the Senate floor, Butler expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and paid tribute to her predecessors, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Senator Carol Moseley Braun.
“It’s been a remarkable honor … to follow in the footsteps of Dianne Feinstein, who so ably served in this chamber for more than 30 years,” Butler said. “I can only hope that for the people of California … I was able to do half as well as those who came before me.”
Butler, a former union leader and president of EMILYs List, said she does not plan to pursue future public office. Instead, she intends to return to advocacy and community organizing, where she built her reputation as a champion for equity and justice.
As she exits, Representative Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank) will be sworn in to take her place, marking the end of a historic chapter in California’s representation in the U.S. Senate.
