Here’s what stood out from the governor’s comments: 1. Newsom said that he wasn’t not sure whether Butler would run for a full term next year, but that he didn’t condition the appointment on her serving on an interim basis until the 2024 elections.
“We didn’t have that conversation. I said, ‘This is up to you.’ That was the end of that conversation,” Newsom said. The governor, who hasn’t endorsed in a field containing Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee, did note qualities that include her idealism and perspective as a member of the LBGTQ community that would implicitly make Butler a strong candidate should she choose to run. “I wouldn't have appointed someone that I didn’t respect and admire and I couldn’t back up and vouch for,” he said. 2. Newsom talked about meeting Butler years ago, and said she “grilled” him on his plans for long-term care for older adults when he was running for governor, “and it changed me a little bit.” “She has a deep sense of idealism and optimism about what she can do,” Newsom said. “I just think Laphonza Butler is uniquely positioned, simply the best person that I could find for this moment in this job.” 3. He also mentioned her age — a subject hanging over Congress after Feinstein died in office at 90. “In some ways I can't even make all of this up if I had to literally design from the mind of imagination — put pen to paper — someone I would like, including the time of life. She’s just 44 years old.” 4. The governor dismissed criticism from California Republicans, including Rep. Darrell Issa and Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher — who railed against Butler’s residency out of state.
Butler moved from California to a Maryland suburb of Washington two years ago when she became president of EMILY's List. She planned to switch her voter registration from Maryland back to California upon being chosen, POLITICO’s Christopher Cadelago reported when he scooped the news of her appointment Sunday. Butler also still owns a home in California, something Newsom pointed to when quickly dismissing the criticism. “She literally took that job, at EMILY's List, and still has a house out here and reregistered. And we were transparent about that,” Newsom said. HAPPY MONDAY AFTERNOON. This is a special edition of California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check of California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to bjones@politico.com or send a shout on Twitter. DMs are open.
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