It remains dizzyingly unclear when we will have a functioning government again but we do have some news out of the California Senate race for late-Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat:
Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-CA), who has been a member of Congress for 16 days ever since Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed her to serve out the rest of Feinstein’s term, confirmed reporting from the New York Times Thursday that she doesn’t plan to run for a full term.
That clears the way for an open race in California, where three Democratic lawmakers and one Republican baseball star are already gunning for the seat.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Butler said she plans to serve “with every ounce of energy and effort that I have” in the time between now and the end of Feinstein’s term, but added: “Knowing you could win a campaign doesn’t always mean you should run a campaign.”
Butler has never served as an elected official, but is prominent in California politics and has quite the resume as a political consultant, working for both Vice President Kamala Harris and Newsom as an adviser. She ran EMILY’s List and was the head of a home health care union for two decades, where she pushed for a $15 minimum wage in California.
In bowing out, the field is clear for what was already-expected to be an expensive primary season. California Reps. Katie Porter, Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee all threw their hat in the ring months before Feinstein passed away in September. And in recent weeks, former Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres star Steve Garvey announced he would run for the seat as a Republican.
The Best Of TPM Today
Here’s what you should read this evening:
Catch up on our live coverage here: Speaker Race Back In Limbo As Republicans Shut Down Empowering McHenry
Democrats Find McHenry More Palatable Than Jordan, But Wait For Republicans To Make First Move
Sidney Powell Pleads Guilty In Georgia Case
Yesterday’s Most Read Story
Rudderless House Republicans Fail To Elect A Speaker, Again — Kate Riga, Emine Yücel, Nicole Lafond
What We Are Reading
Md. police officer, hired a year after Jan. 6, now accused of taking part in it — WaPo
Rep. Bacon says his wife slept with loaded gun after ‘ugly phone calls’ over his Speaker vote — The Hill
