Laphonza Butler won't run for a full Senate term in 2024

WASHINGTON — Laphonza Butler, who was appointed to the Senate in October after the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, will not seek election to a full term in 2024, she announced Thursday.

“After considering those questions I’ve decided not to run for a full term in the US Senate,” she wrote on the social media platform X. “Knowing you can win a campaign doesn’t always mean you should run a campaign. I know this will be a surprise to many because traditionally we don’t see those who have power let it go.”

Her decision means California’s competitive, once-in-a-generation contest for an open Senate seat won’t be further complicated by the entrance of a pseudo-incumbent with extensive fundraising experience. As it stands, the race includes three high-profile Democratic members of Congress — Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee — as well as three candidates who haven’t held elected office: tech executive Lexi Reese, a Democrat, and Republicans Eric Early and Steve Garvey. 

Butler plans to serve through November 2024. California voters will decide in November who should serve out the final month or so of the current term, as well as who will serve for a full six-year term beginning in January 2025.

Schiff, Porter and Lee plan to run in the special election to serve out the end of the current term, their campaigns told the Chronicle.

Butler’s appointment marked the first time both of California’s senators were not white, just 31 years after Feinstein and former Sen. Barbara Boxer’s elections marked the first time California had a woman senator. She is also the only the third openly LGBT member of the chamber.

Butler would have had an advantage in the race by virtue of having the word “senator” next to her name on the ballot, especially among low-information voters who are not following the race closely. 

Lee, in particular, gains the most by Butler’s absence. Lee has been grounding much of her message in the historic importance of her campaign. Only three Black women — including Butler — have ever served in the Senate. With Butler out, Lee will be the only major candidate who is a Black woman in the race.

Butler’s decision not to run leaves Lee as the only person of color in the race. Her campaign has struggled in polling and fundraising, trailing Porter and Schiff since the race began earlier this year. Among all likely voters, Schiff garnered 20% of the vote, followed by Porter (17%) and Lee (7%), a September L.A. Times-Berkeley IGS poll found. Schiff has $32 million cash on hand, Porter has $11.9  million and Lee has $1.3 million, according to September federal campaign filings.

Lee and her supporters had lobbied Newsom to appoint her to the seat, but he told “Meet the Press” in September that he did not want to “tip the balance” of the existing race for a full term, and instead appointed Butler.

On Thursday, Lee told the Chronicle, "Senator Butler took on the enormous responsibility of filling an open senate seat with grace, integrity, and a deep commitment to delivering for the people of California. I look forward to continuing our work together for the remainder of her term." 

Butler's decision not to run for a full term leaves her with just 12 months in the Senate. She previously told the Chronicle she planned to focus on abortion and gun control as priorities. 

With limited time in the Senate, Butler plans to keep in mind something Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told her: “‘You have to pack your patience to be in the Senate.’ And I am patient and urgent about what needs to happen to improve people’s lives.”