California Gov. Gavin Newsom
Gavin NewsomCalifornia races to get ahead of another bad fire season Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez highlight vaccine concert California lifting restrictions on in-person worship MORE (D) pledged Monday that he would appoint a Black woman to replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Emiel FeinsteinBiden's gun control push poses danger for midterms Caitlyn Jenner exploring bid for California governor: report WokeWorld comes for 'oppressor' Obama: Activists rip school being named after 'deporter in chief' MORE (D-Calif.) should she choose to retire before her term is up.
In an interview with MSNBC's Joy Reid, the governor said that he had several candidates in mind for a potential replacement for Feinstein, 87, who has faced pressure from some progressive Democrats to step down and is no longer the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Her current term is up in January 2025.
“We have multiple names in mind, the answer is yes," Newsom said, responding to Reid's question as to whether his appointee would be a Black woman.
Newsom's comments come as he faces his sixth recall campaign as California's governor as well as pressure to nominate a woman of color for the state's next open Senate seat.
Newsom appointed Sen. Alex Padilla
Alex PadillaAgainst mounting odds, Biden seeks GOP support for infrastructure plan The Hill's 12:30 Report: Biden meets with bipartisan lawmakers for infrastructure negotiations Senate Republicans label Biden infrastructure plan a 'slush fund' MORE (D-Calif.) to finish the term of Vice President Harris, who was previously elected to her Senate post in 2016.
“The son of Mexican immigrants — a cook and house cleaner — Alex Padilla worked his way from humble beginnings to the halls of MIT, the Los Angeles City Council and the State Senate, and has become a national defender of voting rights as California’s Secretary of State. Now, he will serve in the halls of our nation’s Capitol as California’s next United States Senator," the governor said in December.
Newsom currently faces a recall effort launched by Republicans in the state in response to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and criticism of state-level restrictions on business and public life resulting from the outbreak.
He faced criticism last year after attending a dinner party at the prestigious French Laundry restaurant, which he later said he regretted.
