Laphonza Romanique Butler

Democrat junior Senator of California

Senator
California
October 3, 2023 - January 3, 2025

202-224-3841

butler.senate.gov

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Congresses Served

Senate Terms

May 11, 1979 (45 years old)

Birthday

Began career as a union organizer for various workers including nurses, janitors, and hospital workers across multiple states before moving to California.
Served as president of the California SEIU State Council from 2013 to 2018, focusing on efforts to increase California’s minimum wage and raise income taxes on the wealthiest Californians.
Endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary and was one of California’s electors for Clinton.
Appointed as a regent of the University of California system by Governor Jerry Brown in 2018, serving until 2021.
Worked as a partner at SCRB Strategies, playing a key role in Kamala Harris’s 2020 presidential campaign, and later joined Airbnb as director of public policy and campaigns in North America.
Became the third president of EMILY’s List in 2021, marking the first black woman and first mother to lead the organization.
Appointed as the junior United States senator from California in 2023 by Governor Gavin Newsom, following the death of Dianne Feinstein.
Became the second openly lesbian woman to serve in the Senate, and the first openly LGBT and black LGBT member of the U.S. Senate from California.
Announced she would not seek election to a full Senate term after her appointment.
Voted for a resolution to apply human rights provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act to U.S. aid to Israel’s military, which was defeated.
Holds committee assignments in Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Judiciary; and Rules and Administration.
Member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Personal life includes being a lesbian, married to Neneki Lee, with whom she has a daughter. Moved to Silver Spring, Maryland, in 2021 but re-domiciled to California in 2023.