Sen. Laphonza Butler Will Not Run for US Senate Seat in 2024

Updated 4:30 p.m. Thursday

In a surprise move for many watching California’s hotly contested U.S. Senate race, recently appointed Sen. Laphonza Butler said Thursday she will not run for a full term in 2024.

Butler, a former labor leader and Democratic strategist, was appointed to the Senate seat earlier this month by Gov. Gavin Newsom, to fill the remainder of a term left open by the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Her announcement was an unexpected twist in the state’s marquee political contest.

“Knowing you can win a campaign doesn’t always mean you should run a campaign,” Butler said, in her statement. “I know this will be a surprise to many because traditionally we don’t see those who have power let it go. It may not be the decision people expected but it’s the right one for me.”

Butler could have run as an incumbent in the March 5 primary, where she would have joined a competitive field that also includes Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee, along with Republicans Eric Early and Steve Garvey, the former baseball star.

In addition to having more name recognition, the three high-profile Democratic candidates are months ahead when it comes to campaign war chests. Since January, Schiff has raised $21.5 million, Porter $22.1 million with Lee trailing with $3.3 million raised. Still, that head start in fundraising may have posed a challenge for Butler.

Butler, who previously helmed SEIU California, the state’s largest umbrella union, has strong labor connections that may have afforded her an advantage in a race where close relationships with unions could provide an advantage. And in her recent role leading EMILYs List, she was often a voice of encouragement for women weighing whether to run for office.

But Butler told FOX 11 in Los Angeles last week that concerns for her own family and the “divisive nature of the harassment” would play a role in deciding whether she would run.

“My mother is 70 years old, she didn’t sign up for this. My daughter is 9, she didn’t sign up for this and so I’m thinking about my family and my family’s safety,” Butler said. “I have already gotten my first piece of hate mail and a stranger has shown up at my door and so that is a real contemplation for me.”

While Lee is struggling to fundraise to the level of Schiff and Porter, Butler’s decision not to pursue a campaign may benefit Lee somewhat. Lee had initially hoped to be Newsom’s appointment to Feinstein’s seat after he promised to pick a Black woman, in light of Kamala Harris’ ascension to the vice presidency.

Molly Watson, deputy director of the California Donor Table, previously told KQED that a Butler run might complicate strategic decisions for donors in deciding how to back two Black progressive candidates.