California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has appointed Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) to the U.S. Senate to serve out the remainder of appointee Sen. Laphonza Butler’s (D) term.
Schiff, who has represented California in the House since 2001 and was elected to the Senate last month, will take office in the upper chamber several weeks ahead of the next Congress, which begins in early January.
Butler had been appointed to the Senate in October 2023 to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D). She announced she would not seek a full term, paving the way for Schiff and others to compete for the seat.
A prominent critic of President-elect Donald Trump, Schiff played a leading role in Trump’s first impeachment and has frequently condemned Trump’s rhetoric as “dictator talk.”
Butler’s resignation will take effect on Sunday, after which Schiff will officially assume the Senate seat. In a statement, Governor Newsom praised Butler’s lifetime achievements and her contributions while filling Feinstein’s term.
“Laphonza has never shied away from fighting for what’s right. She works not for recognition, but for the greater good — a commitment that began long before her time in the Senate and will continue well beyond it,” Newsom said. “Thank you, Senator Butler, for your dedication and service and for honoring the life and legacy of the late Dianne Feinstein, a legacy I’m confident Senator-elect Schiff will also carry forward.”
Adam Schiff will join the Senate alongside newly appointed Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), who was selected by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) on Sunday.
The new California senator appears to be a focal point for criticism from President-elect Donald Trump, even as Schiff signals a willingness to foster bipartisan cooperation in his Senate role.
Despite Trump’s threats to target political opponents, Schiff has stated he will not be intimidated. Reports suggest President Biden is considering offering Schiff a preemptive pardon to protect him from any potential actions by the incoming administration. However, Schiff has declined the idea, expressing confidence in the resilience of the nation’s institutions to withstand any potential abuses of power by Trump.
