U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein—a Democrat serving the state of California—died on Friday at 90 years old, the oldest member of the Senate at the time of her death. (She was also the longest-serving woman in U.S. Senate history, serving for three decades.) California Governor Gavin Newsom will appoint a successor to serve out the rest of Feinstein’s term, keeping a Democratic majority through early January 2025. While Feinstein’s successor has yet to be named, in 2021 Newsom vowed to appoint a Black woman if Feinstein were to retire.
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein
(Image credit: Future)
Names offered up have included Oprah Winfrey and Meghan Markle (before you’re quick to balk at the thought of a celebrity taking the seat, remember—Arnold Schwarzenegger was once California’s governor, and other celebrities have held political office in the state, as well). It could just be conjecture or it could have a basis in truth, but, regardless, Meghan’s name is definitely in the ring and, at minimum, being discussed. (The Daily Mail calls Meghan a “long-shot replacement,” but hey, it’s politics. Anything can happen.)
“Meghan is definitely a long shot, but in the craziness that is U.S. politics these days, it’s not an impossibility,” a major Democratic donor close to Newsom said. “Crazier things have happened.”
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Per Newsom’s pledge, “The problem he now faces is that all the best candidates have already announced they will be running for Feinstein’s seat in November 2024, the next election,” they said. “Governor Newsom…
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