Oakland’s Rep. Barbara Lee, struggling to gain traction in her U.S. Senate bid against Democratic rivals, ripped Gov. Gavin Newsom over his remarks in an interview Sunday that if incumbent Dianne Feinstein can’t finish her term, he’d appoint a Black woman who isn’t running for her seat as a temporary caretaker.
In an appearance with Chuck Todd on NBC’s Meet the Press, Newsom confirmed that he would abide by a previous pledge to appoint a Black woman should Feinstein, 90, be unable to finish her term ending on Jan. 3, 2025. But he added he’d seek an “interim appointment” rather than tap someone now running for her seat.
“It would be completely unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off,” Newsom responded about the race for Feinstein’s seat in which polls show Lee trailing Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff of Burbank and Katie Porter of Irvine. “That primary is just a matter of months away. I don’t want to tip the balance of that.”
“But you’re going to abide by — it would be essentially a caretaker — an African American woman?” Todd asked.
“We hope we never have to make this decision, but I abide by what I’ve said very publicly on a consistent basis,” Newsom said. “Yes.”
In a statement afterward, Lee said she was “troubled by the governor’s remarks.” Schiff and Porter are White, and Lee is the only Black woman in the race. If Feinstein doesn’t complete her term, the Democratic governor could either appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of the term or leave it vacant until voters choose a successor.
“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,” Lee said. “If the governor intends to keep his promise and appoint a Black woman to the Senate, the people of California deserve the best possible person for that…
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