Higher Heights Celebrates Laphonza Butler’s Appointment to Represent California In The U.S. Senate

Butler’s Appointment Fills an Important Void of No Black Women’s Representation in the U.S. Senate

BROOKLYN (October 2, 2023) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed EMILY’s List President Laphonza Butler to fill the seat of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Butler will be the third Black woman to ever serve in the Senate and the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the chamber. In celebration of incoming Sen. Butler, Higher Heights President & CEO Glynda Carr released the following statement: 

“As a close friend and partner to Higher Heights, we congratulate Laphonza on this appointment. With zero Black women currently in the U.S. Senate, we are at a pivotal time when a Black woman’s voice is needed more than ever in this legislative body, Voices such as Butler’s are needed in the halls of Congress to advance progress on the critical issues that voters are demanding action on. We remain steadfast in our commitment to uplift Black women at all levels of government and look forward to seeing all that she accomplishes during her time as a Senator.”