California’s senior Senator Dianne Feinstein says she has no plans to resign, after Gov. Newsom said in a televised interview that he has a list of names ready to replace her.
The LA Times reports that Feinstein was asked today if she is planning to end her term early.
“No,” Feinstein said. “I’ve not discussed that with anybody. Nobody has asked me questions about it.”
Feinstein told reporters that she was fully committed to keeping her seat until Jan. 2025. Newsom would only appoint her replacement if she did not finish her term.
The questions came after MSNBC’s Joy Reid asked Newsom on Monday if he would commit to naming a Black woman to replace Feinstein, if given the chance.
"We have multiple names in mind and the answer is yes," Newsom said.
Feinstein, who is 87 years old and facing calls to resign, said she thought reporters were misinterpreting his comments.
“Please, we’re very good friends. I don’t think he meant it the way some people thought.”
Newsom echoed that sentiment in an appearance on ABC’s “The View” Tuesday morning. Host Sunny Hostin asked Newsom if he meant to imply that Feinstein should step down .
“Quite the contrary, she’s one of my oldest, closest friends and allies and I say that literally, not figuratively,” he said. “I was asked just a point blank question, ‘IF she ever did retire, would I?’ And I just answered it honestly and forthrightly."
"That said, I have no expectation that she’ll be stepping aside. Quite the contrary; I talk to her quite often, she’s as lucid and focused and committed to the cause.”
There are currently no Black women in the Senate after Newsom appointed Alex Padilla to serve the rest of Kamala Harris’ term.
Newsom told Hostin that with Latinos making up 40% of California’s population, he felt it was important that that community have representation in the Senate. Padilla is California's first ever Latino senator.
“Never an easy decision,” he said. “But given the privilege, the opportunity to make another, you have my firm commitment that we’ll be truly representative and we’ll make up for that.”