Gov. Gavin Newsom should pave the way so Dianne Feinstein can make a graceful exit from the U.S. Senate.
For the good of the country, for the good of the state’s representation in Congress, for peace within the Democratic Party, Newsom should promise to appoint a caretaker — someone who will not seek election next year — if Feinstein steps down now. And the senator should resign.
The stakes are too great for this stalemate to continue. With Democrats barely having the numbers to control the Senate, with President Biden’s judicial nominees stalled because of Feinstein’s absence from the deadlocked Judiciary Committee, and with a partisan fight over raising the debt-ceiling fast approaching, California needs full representation in the upper chamber of Congress.
First elected in 1992, Feinstein, 89, is California’s longest-serving U.S. senator. For years there have been mounting questions about her declining mental acuity. But she had shown up for votes. Until this year.
Feinstein has been absent since late February when she was diagnosed with shingles, which can resolve in a few weeks or have painful, long-term complications. While the senator’s office has not provided details about the progress of her recovery, it’s become clear that she won’t be returning soon.
Feinstein issued a statement last week saying that her return to Washington had been delayed “due to continued complications related to my diagnosis” and asking that the Senate appoint a temporary replacement for her on the Judiciary Committee. Senate Republicans, some of whom would have to go along with a temporary replacement deal for it to pass, on Tuesday rejected that idea.
Surely, Feinstein and her staff must realize the magnitude of the stakes. Surely, so does Newsom. At the same time, though, there’s an intra-California political overlay.
Feinstein has announced that she won’t seek reelection next year, and the primary election is less than a year away. But if she resigns before the end of her term, Newsom would pick someone to serve the remainder of the term.
He previously said that he would select a Black woman. Of the three leading Democratic candidates for next year’s election, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, is the only Black woman and the most leftist of the group.
If Newsom were to name Lee to fill out the remainder of Feinstein’s term, that would give her a major incumbency advantage in next year’s election — a consideration that is likely weighing on Feinstein, who is politically much more moderate, and is certainly weighing on many California voters.
The governor should not put his fingers on the scale, certainly not so close to the primary. His assurance that he would do the right thing could nudge the senator to do the same.
—The Editorial Board, Bay Area News Group
