Washington CNN —Democratic Sen. Laphonza Butler made history Tuesday when she was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris as the first out Black lesbian to enter Congress and the only Black woman presently serving in the Senate.
Gavin Newsom to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, becomes only the third Black woman to serve as a US senator.
Harris, formerly the sole Black woman in the Senate, vacated her seat in 2021 after her election as vice president.
Newsom was under intense pressure within California to choose a Black woman to succeed her, but instead appointed Alex Padilla, then California’s secretary of state, who became the first Latino senator from the state.
Newsom later pledged to appoint a Black woman to Feinstein’s seat should the senator resign before her term’s end.
Persons:
Washington CNN — Democratic Sen, Laphonza Butler, Kamala Harris, Butler, Gavin Newsom, Democratic Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Jersey Sen, Bob Menendez’s, Sen, Harris ’, Harris, Newsom, Alex Padilla, Adam Schiff, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Porter, Barbara Lee, Lexi Reese, Eric Early
Organizations:
Washington CNN — Democratic, California Gov, Democratic, House Democrats, Intelligence, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, House Democratic
Locations:
Jersey, California