Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
By Tanu Henry, Antonio Ray Harvey and Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media
Shortly after Sen. Laphonza Butler announced that she will not run in the race to succeed Sen. Dianne Feinstein next year, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) responded to the news.
“Senator Butler took on the enormous responsibility of filling an open senate seat with grace, integrity, and a deep commitment to delivering for the people of California,” wrote Lee in a statement on social media.
“I look forward to continuing our work together for the remainder of her term,” continued Lee, who is among the three contenders and the only Black American — in the crowded race for the U.S. Senate seat Butler currently occupies.
Gov. Newsom appointed Butler to complete the term of Feinstein, who passed away last month. The other two contenders for Senator with Lee are her Democratic colleagues, Congressmembers Katie Porter (D-CA-47) and Adam Schiff (D-CA-30).
In a statement on Oct. 19, Butler said her decision not to run may not be what people expected, but it is the best one for her.
“I’ve always believed elected leaders should have real clarity about why they’re in office and what they want to do with the responsibility and power they have,” wrote Butler in a statement.
“I’ve spent the past 16 days pursuing my own clarity – what kind of life I want to have, what kind of service I want to offer and what kind of voice I want to bring forward,” she continued. “After considering those questions I’ve decided not to run for a full term in the US Senate. Knowing you can win a campaign doesn’t always mean you should run a campaign. I know this will be a surprise to many because traditionally we don’t see those who have power let it go.”
Quoting Muhammad Ali, Butler added, “Don’t count the days. Make the days count. I intend to do just that.”
Butler, who expressed strong support for the Black press during a 30-minute Zoom call last week, has not yet announced her endorsement for her successor.
