# So who should get Kamala's Senate seat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 8, 2020, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058 "2020-11-08T15:13:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/1 "2020-11-08T15:13:33Z")
I’m seeing Katie Porter mentioned a bunch, but some would rather she stay where she is. I’d love some ideas to mull over. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/2 "2020-11-08T16:19:23Z")
Most likely a CA Dem house member or maybe the AG of California or maybe LA mayor. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/3 "2020-11-08T17:34:43Z")
Karen Bass or Barbara Lee. There is currently not a single black woman in the Senate. That’s just awful, and should be rectified. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/4 "2020-11-08T18:55:58Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > the AG of California or maybe LA mayor I like 'em both, but Garcetti (mayor) is pretty controversial, that is to say, even among Democrats. He could do the job, but there’s baggage. Of course, the same is probably true of anyone even conceivably eligible… Agreement with **iiandyiiii** that a woman of color would be a very nice signal of support for the new civil rights era. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/5 "2020-11-08T19:33:39Z")
I meant that once Kamala becomes VP, there will be no black women in the Senate, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/6 "2020-11-08T19:44:30Z")
When does she resign? January 20? ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/7 "2020-11-08T20:03:18Z")
Politically, Newsom pretty much has to name a woman of color or face a serious backlash from state and national Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/8 "2020-11-08T23:19:05Z")
She defeated fellow Democrat Loretta Sanchez in the 2016 Senate race. But i think California would want someone more liberal. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/9 "2020-11-09T14:08:54Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Karen Bass or Barbara Lee. There is currently not a single black woman in the Senate. That’s just awful, and should be rectified. It’s more about internal California politics than it is national politics. Remember a senator represents the interests of their state, it would be different if they were chosen at-large. California has a Latino plurality but has never had a Latino senator, I think the pressure in that direction will be intense. [Alex Padilla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Padilla) is getting a lot of push. There are constituents pushing for a Black senator, constituents pushing for a female senator, constituents pushing for a LBGTQ+ senator, constituents pushing for a thoroughly progressive senator (to balance the more moderate Feinstein) and on down the road. No matter who he picks Newsome is going to piss off somebody. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/10 "2020-11-09T15:27:17Z")
Any Black Latinas in Dem CA politics? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/11 "2020-11-09T15:37:06Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Any Black Latinas in Dem CA politics? None that I’m aware of, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any. But probably safe to say there are none that are especially prominent to the point they’d be considered for a senator’s slot. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/12 "2020-11-09T16:31:43Z")
Kevin de Leon? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/13 "2020-11-09T17:18:40Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Kevin de Leon? He’s been mentioned, though doesn’t seem to be quite at the top of anyone’s list. There have already been a bucket load of names tossed out: State Bureaucrats Alex Padilla, linked above. [Betty Yee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Yee) [Fiona Ma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiona_Ma) [Xavier Becerra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xavier_Becerra) State-level Politicians [Lorena Gonzalez](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorena_Gonzalez) [Toni Atkins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toni_Atkins) [Kevin de León](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_de_Le%C3%B3n) Congress folk: [Barbara Lee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Lee) [Ro Khanna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ro_Khanna) [Karen Bass](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Bass) [Katie Porter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katie_Porter) The Mayors: [Eric Garcetti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Garcetti) [Robert Garcia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Garcia_(California_politician)) [London Breed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Breed) [Libby Schaaf](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libby_Schaaf) And I’m sure I’m missing a dozen more. I think some of these are less likely than others. Newsom is going to want someone who can win a statewide re-election campaign in a couple of years. But the doors are certainly wide open. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/14 "2020-11-09T17:33:11Z")
I’d imagine this is gonna hinge on what Newsom’s longer term ambitions are. Does he see a run for President in his future? Is there a constituency he’d want to court? I’m not suggesting he’ll go the Blago route, but any Governor getting the chance to make a Senate appointment has to think about what’s in his/her best political interest. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/15 "2020-11-09T19:17:44Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Karen Bass or Barbara Lee. They’re 67 and 74, respectively. That’d work if the intent is to appoint a placeholder and let the voters decide in '22, but if Newsome wants to appoint someone who can hold the seat long-term, he’d probably go younger. And yes, I know Senators are often up in the years, but that’s still awfully old to start. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/16 "2020-11-09T19:19:19Z")
If he has designs on the seat himself, that might not be a bad strategy. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/17 "2020-11-09T19:22:21Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > When does she resign? January 20? Whenever she wants, as long as it’s before she takes the oath of office for VP. My guess: it’ll be between when Congress certifies the electoral college count (should be 12/23) and the start of the new Congress (1/3.) That’ll make sure no shenanigan can cost her both the VP and her Senate seat, and let her replacement have seniority over the other Freshmen, which is good for California. The former consideration is \< 1% chance, I’d wager, and the latter is good for California, but not for anyone else. So maybe she won’t really care about either of those. But that’s my guess. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/18 "2020-11-09T19:25:08Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > If he has designs on the seat himself, that might not be a bad strategy. That’s a good point. Probably a smarter way to go about it than appointing himself. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/19 "2020-11-09T19:31:01Z")
Whoever he appoints the seat will be up in 2022. Feinstein is up in 2024 and almost certain to retire, so he might have a couple of opportunities in relatively short order. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058/20 "2020-11-09T19:32:01Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > If he has designs on the seat himself, that might not be a bad strategy. I really doubt Newsom is interested in being a senator in that time period. Governor of CA trumps senator any day as a power position/bully pulpit and barring a career-ending scandal he should sail to an easy re-election in 2022 if he so chooses. I’d say only a presidential run might distract him, but with Kamala Harris in the way even that might not be in the cards in 2024. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-should-get-kamalas-senate-seat/925058.md?page=2)