Congressional Black Caucus calls on Newsom to appoint Barbara Lee to replace Feinstein

The Congressional Black Caucus is the latest group to push Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) to appoint Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) to the seat of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who died at age 90 on Friday.

Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford sent a letter to Newsom asking him to appoint Lee to the Senate. Eyes have been on Newsom since news of Feinstein’s health issues and, later, her death, after he vowed in 2021 to fill the Senate seat with a black woman.

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Horsford acknowledged Newsom’s “extraordinarily difficult position” of needing to appoint a new senator and commended him on his “courageous commitment” to appoint a black woman to the seat and “rectify the gross imbalance in representation” in the Senate.

“Congresswoman Lee has always done what’s right, not what’s easy — especially during moments of crisis,” Horsford wrote. “Her values have never wavered: she is a tried and true progressive who has been effective in delivering legislation that helps working people.”

Horsford listed Lee’s work in advancing House Democrats’ more progressive policies, saying she is the “best choice for this appointment.”

“She is the only person with the courage, the vision, and the record to eradicate poverty, face down the fossil fuel industry, defend our democracy, and tirelessly advance the progressive agenda,” Horsford wrote.

Feinstein had said she would not seek reelection, prompting Lee and Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Katie Porter (D-CA) to enter the 2024 Senate race. Public polling shows Schiff and Porter tied, with Lee not far behind.

Newsom had said prior to Feinstein’s death that he hoped to avoid weighing in on the race to replace Feinstein next year and would not select a 2024 Senate candidate to take her place.

“It would be completely unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off,” Newsom said earlier this month about appointing a candidate via the Washington Post. “That primary is just a matter of months away. I don’t want to tip the balance of that.”

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Other possible replacements for Feinstein include Secretary of State Shirley Weber, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, civil rights activist Angela Glover Blackwell, Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

The Washington Examiner reached out to Newsom’s office and the Congressional Black Caucus.