Gavin Newsom’s Plan For Replacing Dianne Feinstein Is ‘Insulting’ to Black Women, California Dem Says

California Gov. Gavin Newsom confirmed on Sunday that he is prepared to appoint an “interim” replacement for Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., if she leaves office early.

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Newsom says he will not pick any of the current candidates running to replace her as the interim appointee, however, much to the chagrin of Rep. Barbara Lee, who had been widely considered Newsom’s top pick for the role.

“Yes. Interim appointment. I don’t want to get involved in the primary,” Newsom told host Chuck Todd. “It would be completely unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off. {snip}. I don’t want to tip the balance of that.”

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Lee lashed out at Newsom on X {snip}

“I am troubled by the Governor’s remarks,” she wrote. “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.”

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