Back in 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom verbally committed to appointing a Black woman to the Senate if Senator Dianne Feinstein, who was 87 at the time, resigned before her current term ended.
Feinstein, who plans to retire after next year, said she will return to the Senate as soon as her medical team allows, though no date is known. Fellow Democrats have called for her to step down.
If Sen. Feinstein were to resign before November 2024, Governor Newsom has the authority to appoint someone to fill the seat until 2025.
If Newsom keeps to his 2021 pledge, the likely woman to be selected to replace Feinstein is Oakland’s Rep. Barbara Lee. Barbara Lee (D-CA) is squaring off against fellow Congressional members Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Katie Porter (D-CA), as well as against Republican candidate Eric Early (R).