Sen. Laphonza Butler Is an Expert in Labor Issues. But What About Climate?

Organizations across California came out of the woodwork to praise Laphonza Butler as she ascended to the U.S. Senate this week, touting her long record on progressive issues and fighting for working class people.

But as the newly sworn-in senator begins her tenure, environmentalists in California are wondering what her appointment means for climate action in this state.

Butler’s background is cemented in labor issues, having served as president of California’s SEIU for more than a decade. She’s also a well-known political strategist and a champion of abortion rights, most recently serving as president of EMILY’s List.

But Butler has never held elected office and has virtually no experience with climate policy.

“The governor did not appoint somebody who has a long track record on these issues, and I think that raises some questions in the community,” said democratic strategist Steve Maviglio.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has made the issue fundamental to his time in office. Most recently, California filed a lawsuit against major oil companies claiming they deceived the public for decades on climate. And he committed to sign landmark legislation that would require billion-dollar corporations working in California to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions.

At the helm of a state that has become the poster child of climate change disasters, Newsom’s choice to appoint Butler surprised environmental activists.

“It was totally out of the box,” Maviglio said. “She was not on anybody’s short list.”

Butler now represents about 40 million Californians in one of the most powerful lawmaking positions in the country. She will be tasked with promoting climate change mitigation on the national stage, as well as voting on water policy, wildfire mitigation strategies and plans for handling drought, among other issues.

She’s also stepping in on the heels of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein who, over her many decades in office, played a significant role in shaping environmental legislation, including protecting millions of acres of California deserts and regulating oil drilling off the state’s Pacific coast and pollution from cars.

Meanwhile, Butler’s political career has so far been rooted primarily in labor issues. During her tenure at SEIU 2015, the labor union was peripherally involved in clean energy bills, including SB 100, which set a target of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045. Unlike other private sector unions at the time, SEIU also showed support for fossil fuel divestment legislation, like SB 185. However, SEIU declined to say whether Butler was involved directly in those efforts.