Facing a no-win situation, Newsom made a surprise decision with Senate appointment
The death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein last month left a California U.S. Senate seat vacant and, seemingly, put Gov. Gavin Newsom in a no-win situation of his own making.
But Newsom didn't see it that way.
"Everybody else said, 'Well, he's painted himself in a corner,'" Newsom told reporters in San Francisco last week. "I found that a little offensive. I didn't paint myself in a corner. Quite the contrary. I think we just provided ... ample evidence of one of the most extraordinary, outstanding young leaders."
Last month Newsom repeated his pledge that if Feinstein left office due to her failing health, he would appoint a Black woman to fill her seat in the interim until her term ends next year. He said he would not appoint any of the candidates currently vying in the 2024 contest for the seat, including the top Black woman in the race, Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland, because he didn't want to tip the scale of the election.
After Feinstein's death, Newsom appeared to face a choice: Appoint a
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