The choice of California Gov. Gavin Newsom to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein in the Senate quickly scrubbed the online evidence that she actually lives in Maryland.
Screenshots of Laphonza Butler’s account on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, show she still listed her location as “Maryland” on Sunday when news of her selection was first reported. His account has since been updated and currently does not list any locations.
Butler, who is president of the pro-abortion group EMILY’s List, had a bio on the organization’s website changed hours after news of her Senate appointment broke, removing references to her living in Maryland. A previous version of his bio ended with the sentence, “He lives in Maryland with his partner Neneki Lee and their daughter Nylah,” which has since been removed.
In addition to the online Maryland references, a Federal Election Commission filing from EMILY’s List also identified Butler as a resident of Silver Spring, Maryland, as recently as August 31.
REMEMBERING THE LEGACY OF SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN
The choice of California Gov. Gavin Newsom to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein in the Senate, Laphonza Butler, pictured here, quickly scrubbed online evidence that she actually lives in Maryland. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Neither EMILY’s List nor Butler immediately responded to questions from Fox News.
Newsom announced Butler’s appointment the day after Feinstein died at age 90 last week. He now hopes to finish out the rest of Feinstein’s term in Washington, DC, before the 2024 election. In a statement, the governor described Butler as an “advocate for women and girls, a second-generation fighter for working people, and a trusted advisor to Vice President Harris.”
ALL EYES ON CALIFORNIA GOV. NEWSOM TO QUICKLY NAME TEMPORARY SENATE REPLACEMENT FOR FEINSTEIN
Appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom nominates Laphonza Butler to replace Dianne Feinstein in the US Senate. (REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo)
“While we mourn the tremendous loss of Senator Feinstein, the very freedoms she fought for — reproductive freedom, equal protection, and safety from gun violence — have never been under greater attack,” Newsom added. “Laphonza will carry the baton left by Senator Feinstein, continue to shatter glass ceilings, and fight for all Californians in Washington DC”
Newsom’s office told Fox News Digital that Butler moved to the suburbs near Washington, DC, when he became EMILY’s List president in 2021, and that he has a home in California. The governor’s office added that Butler will re-register to vote in California before he is sworn in.
LONGTIME SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN PASSES 90
Feinstein died Thursday after battling a series of illnesses. She is the oldest member of Congress and the longest serving woman in the Senate.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) passed away at the age of 90 last week. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Butler called Feinstein a “legendary figure for women in politics and across the country” in a statement posted after the senator’s death last week.
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While Butler has never been elected to office, he has been involved in California politics for years. He served as a senior adviser to Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign while working at a political firm with strategists who worked for Newsom and other prominent state Democrats. He also has two decades of experience in the labor movement, including previously serving as SEIU’s 2015 labor leader.
