An FEC filing, her employer’s website, and her own social media account said Laphonza Butler lives in Maryland
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s selection to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein in the Senate, Laphonza Butler, has swiftly removed online indications that she resides in Maryland.
Screenshots of Butler’s X (formerly known as Twitter) account from Sunday, when news of her Senate appointment was first reported, showed her location as “Maryland.” However, her account has since been updated and no longer displays any location.
Butler, who serves as the president of the pro-abortion organization EMILY’s List, had her bio on the organization’s website altered shortly after her Senate appointment was announced. The revised bio no longer includes references to her residing in Maryland. An earlier version of her bio mentioned, “She lives in Maryland with her partner Neneki Lee and their daughter Nylah,” but this information has been removed.
Furthermore, a Federal Election Commission filing from EMILY’s List as of August 31 still identified Butler as a resident of Silver Spring, Maryland.
EMILY’s List and Laphonza Butler did not provide immediate responses to inquiries from Fox News.
Govt. Newsom announced Butler’s appointment shortly after the passing of Sen. Dianne Feinstein at the age of 90. Butler is expected to complete the remainder of Feinstein’s term in Washington, D.C., leading up to the 2024 election. In his statement, Governor Newsom praised Butler as an advocate for women and girls, a second-generation advocate for working people, and a trusted advisor to Vice President Harris.
Newsom emphasized that Butler would continue Feinstein’s legacy, fighting for key issues such as reproductive freedom, equal protection, and gun violence prevention, which are currently facing significant challenges. He expressed confidence that Butler would carry on Feinstein’s work, break barriers, and advocate for all Californians in the nation’s capital.
According to Newsom’s office, Laphonza Butler relocated to the suburbs near Washington, D.C., in 2021 when she assumed the role of EMILY’s List president. The office also mentioned that Butler has a residence in California and will re-register to vote in the state prior to her swearing-in.
Butler expressed her gratitude to Governor Newsom for the appointment in a statement issued on Monday.
“I am honored to accept Gov. Newsom’s nomination to be a U.S. Senator for a state I have long called home,” she stated.
Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away on Thursday after a battle with various health issues. She held the distinction of being the oldest member of Congress and the longest-serving woman in the Senate.
In a statement released after Senator Dianne Feinstein’s passing last week, Laphonza Butler referred to Feinstein as a “legendary figure for women in politics and around the country.”
Although Butler has not held an elected office, she has been actively involved in California politics for a substantial period. She served as a senior adviser to Vice President Harris’s 2020 presidential campaign while simultaneously working at a political firm alongside strategists who have worked with Governor Newsom and other prominent California Democrats. Additionally, Butler has accumulated two decades of experience in the labor movement, including her previous role as a labor leader with SEIU in 2015.