California Governor Gavin Newsom is set to appoint Laphonza Butler, President of EMILY’s List, to fill the vacant Senate seat left by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein. The decision has sparked controversy, as Butler is a resident of Maryland and only registered to vote in California last year.

Feinstein, who passed away at the age of 90, was the longest-serving woman in the U.S. Senate. Despite her tenure, her career was not without controversy. She served on the Senate Intelligence Panel despite having a Chinese spy on her payroll for over two decades.

Newsom’s choice to appoint Butler, the head of a fundraising group that supports Democratic women who advocate for abortion rights, aligns with his previous statement on “Meet the Press.” During the interview, he suggested he would choose a black woman as an “interim appointment” to replace Feinstein.

The decision means that both of California’s U.S. Senators will be unelected officials. Previously, Newsom appointed former California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to fill Kamala Harris’s Senate seat. Padilla was under scrutiny for directing $35 million to a firm linked to the Biden-Harris campaign in 2020. This recent appointment now means that California has not one, but two unelected officials representing them.

Republicans on the House Oversight and House Administration Committees called for an investigation into Padilla’s allocation of taxpayer-funded money to a pro-Biden firm. His office used grant money from a Coronavirus stimulus package to influence the federal election, which raised legal and ethical concerns.

Newsom’s decision to appoint Butler raises questions about the democratic process and representation of Californian voters. Critics argue that appointing unelected officials to represent the state undermines the democratic process and the voice of the voters.

However, supporters believe Butler’s appointment could bring fresh perspectives and progressive policies to the Senate, particularly regarding women’s rights.

This move reflects the ongoing political tension and ideological divide in American politics. The impact of Newsom’s decision will undoubtedly be a topic of debate in the coming weeks.