Who will replace Dianne Feinstein in the Senate?

The death of senior U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, at the age of 90 leaves open one of the most high-profile seats in the upper congressional chamber. It will be up to Gov. Gavin Newsom to decide who fills it, in what is sure to be one of the most scrutinized decisions of his ambitious career.

A looming election

Feinstein had already said she was retiring next year, and three high profile House members are vying for her seat: Rep. Adam Schiff of Los Angeles, who gained national fame during the first Trump impeachment; Rep. Katie Porter, an Elizabeth Warren-style economic populist from Orange County; and Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland, a progressive famous for casting the only vote against authorizing George W. Bush with war powers after 9/11.

Read more on Yahoo News: Schiff and Porter increasingly dominate race for Senate, poll shows, from the Los Angeles Times

Gavin’s choice

In 2016, Kamala Harris was elected to the Senate, becoming the first Black woman from California to earn that distinction. After Joe Biden chose her as his vice presidential nominee, and they won the 2020 election, Gov. Gavin Newsom filled her empty seat by appointing Alex Padilla, then California’s secretary of state (he won reelection to his seat last year). He is the first Hispanic person to represent California in the U.S. Senate.

But as Feinstein’s retirement loomed, with the importance of Black women to the Democratic coalition as apparent as ever after the 2020 election, Newsom said in 2021 he would appoint a Black woman, should the Feinstein seat open up.

As Feinstein’s health declined over the first half of 2023, Black leaders in California made clear that they expected Newsom to make good on his promise, should the seat become available.

Read more on Yahoo News: Some doubt Newsom will support Black woman for senator, from the Grio

A ‘caretaker’ senator

One obvious choice for Newsom is Rep. Lee, who is Black, but appointing her could lead to charges that Newsom is trying to influence the 2024 election by endowing her with the power of incumbency.

He has tried to resolve the problem by saying he would appoint a “caretaker” to serve out Feinstein’s term, leaving Lee, Porter and Schiff to battle for the seat next year.

Lee has criticized the plan, arguing that the Black woman chosen by Newsom would represent a “token replacement,” a placeholder with little effective power (other senators aren’t likely to take a new arrival who is already a lame duck very seriously, and influence in the chamber takes years to accrue).

“I would hope in a free democratic society we would not put limitations on people if we appoint them: ‘You can’t run for election. You can’t stay any longer.’ Qualified people should be empowered to run and be free to compete,” state legislator Lori D. Wilson told the Los Angeles Times.

Several names have been floated, including San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Secretary of State Shirley Weber.

One intruding possibility: mega-celebrity Oprah Winfrey.

Read more on Yahoo News: California's Newsom faces tough question: Who would replace Feinstein? from the Associated Press