Butler aces first political test, passing on Senate run

Laphonza Butler has been living a whirlwind these last few weeks.

Overnight, she went from being a campaign strategist and behind-the-scenes operative — unknown to most, save political insiders — to a U.S. senator representing nearly 40 million residents of the most important state in the union.

Even Butler was surprised Gov. Gavin Newsom tapped her to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. It was like plucking a set designer from the wings and placing her, with barely any notice, directly at center stage.

Since then — as Butler learned which Capitol Hill stairways lead where, flew cross-country to meet with assorted constituencies and developed a case of COVID-19 — one overriding question trailed her: Would she run for a full term in 2024?

On Thursday, she gave her answer: No.

It was the right decision, and a politically astute one.

By foregoing a campaign that would have been difficult to win, Butler leaves herself well-positioned for a future run if she chooses to seek office. It also allows the state’s very fresh freshman senator to devote herself full time to her congressional duties.

Which is exactly what Butler should do.

The decision, announced abruptly, was hastened by a number of impending deadlines, among them cutoffs to vie for the state Democratic Party’s endorsement and to be included as a candidate in the information guide mailed to every California voter.

The March 5 primary is a little over four months from now, an incredibly short time to ramp up a statewide campaign, raise the many millions of dollars needed to advertise and develop even a cursory relationship with voters sprawling over California’s vast expanse.

Butler also faced other challenges.

She was living in Maryland and working in Washington, D.C., leading the women’s campaign organization Emily’s List, before her Senate appointment. Her lack of longstanding California residency would have surely become an issue.

A former labor leader, Butler also faced agita from the political left for the handsome sum she made working for Uber as the ride-hailing service worked to undermine its drivers’ push for better pay and working conditions. That, too, would have been an issue.

Neither, however, posed insurmountable hurdles. The greater impediments for Butler were time and money, two vital ingredients to political success.

She would have started flat-footed against a formidable field of contenders, including Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee, who collectively have already amassed tens of millions of dollars.

Political handicappers tended to overstate the advantage of Butler’s labor connections. Although she enjoys a number of personal connections, several unions had already committed to others in the race, or assumed a wait-and-see approach. It’s not hard to imagine much of organized labor staying neutral, or endorsing multiple candidates, had Butler belatedly entered the Senate contest.

In bowing out, Butler issued the kind of statement — brave, a little cocky — one often hears under such circumstances.

“Knowing you can win a campaign doesn’t always mean you should run a campaign,” she said.

The rest of her written remarks seemed more cognizant and truer to the heart.

“I know this will be a surprise to many because traditionally we don’t see those who have power let it go,” Butler stated. “It may not be the decision people expected but it’s the right one for me.”