How Newsom made his surprise decision for Senate pick

Then-California Democratic candidate for governor, Lt. Gov. “Everybody else said, ‘Well, he’s painted himself in a corner,’” Newsom told reporters in San Francisco last week. “So how you make the choice and the media narrative that week is much less important than the choice that you make and what that means for California’s representation in the Senate going forward.” Newsom had been under near-constant pressure to address a potential replacement for Feinstein since last year, when questions about her age and mental capacity and, later, her health began to swirl. With powerful California Democratic Reps. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank, Katie Porter of Irvine and Lee running for the seat in 2024, all jumping into the race after Feinstein announced she would not seek another term, Newsom also said he didn’t “want to get involved in the primary.” “It would be completely unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off,” Newsom said in response to a question of whether he would appoint someone who is already running. Among those voices, Lee’s was the loudest: “The idea that a Black woman should be appointed only as a caretaker to simply check a box is insulting to countless Black women across this country who have carried the Democratic Party to victory election after election.” Up until news of Feinstein’s death spread on that Friday morning, Newsom’s team had only discussed a long list of potential names and not held any serious deliberations, an aide to the governor said.