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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBig California donors want to fill Kamala Harris's Senate seat with a woman of color
Some of Californias biggest political donors are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to choose a woman of color to fill the seat of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
Given how rare it has been for a Senate seat in the countrys largest state to become vacant, California leaders have been hard at work trying to lobby Newsom ever since Harris was chosen for the Democratic ticket this summer. And now the lobbying is becoming more public.
On Monday, about 150 of the states biggest women donors will ratchet up the pressure with a public letter to Newsom saying that he should not replace Harris with a white woman, never mind a man.
We urge you to continue this Californian tradition by appointing a woman of color to Vice President-elect Harriss US Senate seat, the donors write in the letter, which will appear as a full-page ad in the states two largest newspapers, the Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle, and was shared early with Recode. Women of color are the core drivers of electoral progress in our country, and their voices should be heard in the nations highest governing body. California is fortunate to have a strong pipeline of women of color in elected office who are prepared to serve; as Californians and political supporters, we look forward to you selecting one of them.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/big-california-donors-want-to-fill-kamala-harris-s-senate-seat-with-a-woman-of-color/ar-BB1bgab0?li=BBnbfcQ&ocid=DELLDHP
msongs
(67,347 posts)BlueStater
(7,596 posts)If that happens to be a black woman, great. If its a white man, also great.
Yavin4
(35,420 posts)That way no one will have the advantage of incumbency.
DrToast
(6,414 posts)Yavin4
(35,420 posts)It would be the fair thing to do.
Not him or someone like him. It should be someone who can stay in the job.
tinrobot
(10,883 posts)It used t be her seat.
Hekate
(90,537 posts)We are in a war, and I dont want there to be any quarter given in that direction, no gentlemanly agreements, no placeholders. The gov has a plethora of excellent Dems to choose from, of all races, genders, and ages. Anybody he picks will make me happy, and the advantage of incumbency is all to the good afaic.
Eventually DiFi is going to have to retire, and GOPers are going to lust for her seat as well. Expect bloodshed.
Yavin4
(35,420 posts)Not too worried about corporate money coming in for Republicans.
Hekate
(90,537 posts)...and should only choose a woman if she happens to be the most qualified person in the known universe. It was exactly the same when Obama announced he was going to select a woman for the SCOTUS vacancy.
Its instructive that when a couple of dozen candidates are presented who are all white men, nobody brings up identity politics, or quotas, or needing to be the most qualified candidate in the known universe.
Why is that, I wonder?
dsc
(52,147 posts)with him picking a placeholder. George Takei would be a great idea honestly but any placeholder would do for me. I just would prefer it to be a placeholder so the people can pick a senator on an even playing field.
LuvNewcastle
(16,834 posts)for office. When you get to high offices like U.S. Senator, it's about who has a proven record of serving their constituents the best. If that's a woman of color, a white woman, a man, it does not matter. Most Americans don't like it when interest groups get pandered to. That sort of thing turns a lot of people off to Democrats.
Demsrule86
(68,455 posts)FreeState
(10,569 posts)Last edited Mon Nov 23, 2020, 12:10 AM - Edit history (1)
There hasnt been a republican senator in nearly 30 years from CA.
Hekate
(90,537 posts)....Republican luminaries.
As noted, incumbency is powerful, and Boxer and Feinstein got in and stayed in. Theres your 30 years.
FreeState
(10,569 posts)Klantee/El Cajon and the Central Valley dont have enough power to send a republican to the senate. Statewide the GOP has 7 of 46 federal house seats.
State wide registration by party:
Democratic: 44.6%
Republican: 25.4%
No Party Preference: 25.0%
Ace Rothstein
(3,140 posts)Raine
(30,540 posts)We might like a say in who represents us!
Yavin4
(35,420 posts)Big donors would give too much of an advantage to an incumbent.
TexasTowelie
(111,906 posts)Pick the best qualified person regardless of race or gender rather than meeting a quota.
BainsBane
(53,012 posts)wouldn't be the most qualified or would be a "spokesmodel." Women of color have to work 4x as hard as anyone else to get ahead.
Hekate
(90,537 posts)PTWB
(4,131 posts)Shes incredible and puts up with zero bullshit.
Polybius
(15,331 posts)It doesn't have to stay like that for life. Just pick whoever is the most qualified.
Retrograde
(10,128 posts)The last two senators I can find from California who were appointed to the office were white men, and Republicans. Now, women have held both Senate seats since 1992, but AFAIK they were the first to hold the office from this state. The women holding the seat - Feinstein, Boxer, and Harris - are all from the Bay Area, so if Newsom wants to appoint another women from here that's fine with me.
Personally, I'd like to see either Padilla, Becerra, or De Leon in the seat, even though they're from down south. And men.
BTW, the only person of color other than Harris to hold the office of senator from California seems to be S.I. Hayakawa, from 1977-83. While he won the election, the sitting CA senator, a Democrat, resigned 2 days early so he could have more seniority.
Indykatie
(3,695 posts)I'm sure there are some women of color that are qualified. I think POC and Latinos will feel overlooked if Biden choses a White woman with little congressional experience like like Porter. We talk about our commitment to diversity. We need to take advantage of the limited opportunities that come along to expand the diversity in the Senate caucus. There has been talk of Feinstein stepping down before the end of her term so that would be another opportunity.