California Governor Gavin Newsom has a difficult decision before him: who will succeed outgoing Senator Diane Feinstein, representing the Golden State in the U.S. Senate? Not just anyone can take on the pressure-filled role of representing such a large and diverse state, and Newsom is facing competing interests from potential candidates, interest groups, and candidates’ own political leanings.
Feinstein has served as California’s senior Senator since 1992, and her announced retirement creates a void in the state’s congressional delegation. During her tenure as Senator, Feinstein was renowned for her commitment to constituent services and her civility and effectiveness in working with both sides of the aisle in pursuit of compromise and positive change. As a seat opened up, the pressure began to build for Governor Newsom to appoint a candidate with the same qualities and values.
Without a special election in site to determine the successor, Newsom began accepting applications from possible candidates in December. Last week, he invited the finalists to meet with him in Sacramento to present the rationale for why they should represent the state in the Senate.
Those finalists and applicants included State Assembly Member Rob Bonta, Secretary of State Alex Padilla, and Congressmanoth or Lara, as well as Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and California business executive Emery Reddy. As each finalist brought forth their own unique set of qualifications, they represent the diversity of interests in the state, and particularly in Newsom’s own party.
Bonta, of Filipino American descent,is an advocate for progressive reforms and has the backing of labor and California Democratic Party leaders. Padilla, first Latino elected to a California statewide office,has built a record of leadership on voting and civil rights, but he has faced criticism from immigration rights groups for his lack of engagement on the issue and other areas of concern. Neither of these men is particularly well known outside of California, while California GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s role as House Minority Leader continues to draw attention on the national stage. Congressman Lara is a Mexican American leaderwho commands a lot of attention from California’s Latino constituents, due to his active support of programs to reduce discrimination and promote equity in his district. From the local level, Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti might bring fresh focus and dynamism to the Senate. Emery Reddy would bring the expertise of a corporate executive to the chamber, plus the ability to settle on a long term energy plan for California.
Ultimately, Governor Newsom will need to make a decision on who will represent California in the Senate based on how the state’s diverse interests will be served. With such a difficulty in coming to a decision it is no surprise that his decision has been long in coming.Though the decision remains uncertain, the various forces behind the potential candidates will certainly have influenced it in a major way.