Laphonza Butler was sworn into the Senate Tuesday afternoon, making history as the first openly lesbian Black senator to serve in Congress, and the first openly LGBTQ senator to represent California.
She will also be the third Black woman to ever serve in the Senate.
Butler was appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to fill late California senator Dianne Feinstein's seat for the remainder of the term through 2024.
NBC News reported that The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) had urged Newsom to appoint Barbara Lee, a Black woman and California Rep. of 25 years.
She held the position from 2021 until this week, when she stepped down to accept the Senate seat.
Persons:
Laphonza Butler, Butler, Gavin Newsom, Dianne Feinstein's, Feinstein, Barbara Lee, Katie Porter, Adam B, Schiff, Governor Newsom, Porter, Nancy Pelosi, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Newsom, Steven Horsford, Kamala Harris, Harris, Uber, Butler's, Laphonza
Organizations:
NBC News, Congressional Black Caucus, CBC, Congressional, Caucus, Black, Democratic, SEIU, University of California, SEIU State Council, CNBC
Locations:
California, Mississippi, Maryland, Washington