For Gov. Gavin Newsom, a vacant Senate seat would be “an absolute no-win situation … one of his own making,” one expert said.
And neither would angering the Black community if he snubbed Lee, Schnur said.
“Senate offices have a lot of really skilled, experienced staff members,” he said. “A caretaker retaining the same staff — or a significant portion — would be the easiest transition, and then California voters would have to weigh a decision.” In this Jan. 7, 2019, file photo, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, talks with then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Sacramento.
Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Controller Malia Cohen are also options — and ones with a twist. Newsom could appoint either of the state officeholders to head to Washington for a short time while putting placeholders in their seats for them to return to. For Weber, that might be a bit trickier since she oversees California’s elections, Schnur noted, but at 74 years old, it’s entirely possible she could use a Senate position to bookend her own political career.
“With everything that’s at stake — voting rights, abortion rights, climate, it goes on and on — I would hope that the governor would not prioritize political neutrality over someone who knows D.C., has experience representing us Californians and who we trust to get the job done from day one,” Allison said. “That requires not doing something in half-measure, not this temporary thing, but to support Barbara Lee, to position her to represent us and to win reelection.
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