California Sen. Butler will not seek a full term in 2024

Had she opted to run, Butler would have likely been a strong contender in the crowded Democratic Primary.

By Ben Whedon

Published: October 19, 2023 4:56pm

California's newly-minted Democratic senator, Laphonza Butler, will not seek a full term in office in 2024, she announced on Thursday.

Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Butler to fill the vacancy left by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who passed away in September. Butler will serve the remainder of Feinstein's term, which will end in January 2025.

"I’ve spent the past 16 days pursuing my clarity — what kind of life I want to have, what kind of service I want to offer and what kind of voice I want to bring forward," she said, according to Politico. "After considering those questions I’ve decided not to run for Senate in the upcoming election."

"Knowing you can win a campaign doesn’t always mean you should run a campaign," she continued. Had she opted to run, Butler would have likely been a strong contender in the crowded Democratic Primary.

That race currently includes three Democratic House members, among them Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, and Barbara Lee.

Prior to her appointment, Butler served as president of the pro-abortion EMILY's List, which works to elect Democrats aligned with that position across the country.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.