Newly appointed California Democratic Sen. Laphonza Butler announced Thursday she will not seek election to a full term in 2024, avoiding what would have been a costly and bruising race for the seat held for three decades by the late Dianne Feinstein.
Butler — who was named earlier this month by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to complete Feinstein’s remaining term — said in a statement she made the decision after considering “what kind of life I want to have, what kind of service I want to offer and what kind of voice I want to bring forward.”
Butler, who had never run an election campaign, said she could have won but chose not to compete in the upcoming Democratic Party primary.
“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,” Butler added. “It may not be the decision people expected, but it’s the right one for me.”
Her candidacy would have complicated an already crowded race that includes several other prominent leftist Democrats — U.S. Reps. Katie Porter, Adam Schiff, and Barbara Lee — and Republican Steve Garvey, a former Major League Baseball star.
Butler is a longtime Democratic insider and fundraiser, but had never held any type of public office before joining the Senate.
Had she entered the race that has been underway since January, Butler would have faced challenging financial and political hurdles on a tight timeline, all while contending with her new job in Washington at a time of global crises.
Mail ballots for the March 5 primary go out in early February, meaning she would have just months to raise millions of dollars for TV advertising while building a campaign organization capable of competing in the nation’s most populous state, with about 22 million registered voters.
Schiff, by comparison, has a $32 million head start and an endorsement from former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. While Butler is well known in California Democratic circles, she would be an unknown to many voters.
Butler also would have faced uncertain prospects under California election rules, in which only the two candidates who receive the most primary votes advance to the November general election, regardless of party. In a race against better known and better funded candidates, her chances of landing one of the top two spots appeared dicey, if not unlikely.
Prior to being appointed, Butler headed Emily’s List, a national organization that raises huge amounts of money for far-Left female candidates who support abortions. She also served as a senior adviser to Kamala Harris’ failed 2020 presidential campaign while working at a political firm founded by Newsom’s longtime strategists. She briefly worked in the private sector for Airbnb.
Porter’s campaign seized the moment as a fundraising opportunity.
Even with Butler bypassing the contest “our race is still highly competitive,” her campaign told supporters in an email seeking donations. “We have millions of undecided voters to reach.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article