Laphonza Butler is California’s new senator after the death of longtime leader Dianne Feinstein.
Butler attended Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit on Monday to discuss the surreal feeling of getting the call from California Gov. Gavin Newsom offering her a Senate seat.
Fortune’s Emma Hinchliffe asked Butler if her vision includes being appointed to the U.S. Senate. “Not on my vision board, not on my bingo cards, not in my ancestors’ wildest dreams,” Butler replied, as the cheering audience gave her a standing ovation.
Butler said she didn’t have much time to consider Newsom’s proposal given the “looming government shutdown.” But after talking to his wife, she decided to accept his offer and be honored to serve in the position Feinstein had held for decades.
“In this moment of crisis for our country, this is my chance to raise my hand again,” Butler said.
She expressed admiration for Senator Feinstein, who was elected in 1992 and served until her recent death at age 90.
“I have not been bold enough to believe that I could contribute as much as the senator has done in her decades of service,” Butler said. “I have lived my life as a role model for women and girls and their economic empowerment, I want to keep doing this.”
historic moment Senate
When Vice President Kamala Harris was sworn in last week, she became the first openly lesbian Black senator to serve in Congress, the third Black woman to serve in the Senate, and the only one currently serving in the Senate A black woman.
“I just know how to be a black woman,” Butler said. “I didn’t know anything, so I didn’t know how to lead any other way. So I think these milestones really mean something to me and hopefully other black women, other lesbians, and other people who just want to follow their own People who live their lives set an example.”
Butler’s mother celebrated her 70th birthday this year and took her on her first solo mother-daughter trip. Butler thought that trip was a big deal for her mother, but it wasn’t until she met her mother at the U.S. Capitol, along with Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Lauren Underwood, that she Discover how proud you are.
“I never thought that one day I would recognize and see the pride in my mother’s eyes as she stepped forward to shake hands with the Vice President who was swearing in her daughter, her youngest child, as the third It means a lot to me that a black woman is serving in a senator’s office. It means a lot to my family,” Butler said.
Butler recalled with a laugh that her nine-year-old daughter chose not to attend her swearing-in ceremony because she wanted to go camping. Apparently, this was her first time camping without her parents. Butler may have tried to coax her into going, telling her the vice president would be there, but her daughter just asked her to say hi on her behalf.
2024 remains a mystery
Butler hopes her appointment will be meaningful to young girls and that it proves that anything is possible. While Butler recognizes that it’s time for a new generation of leaders, and perhaps even more so, lawmakers, learning from Feinstein and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been a gift.
“We can’t pursue representation and inclusion without representation and inclusion,” Butler said. “We should take this opportunity to learn from those who have led before us so we can do better next time.”
She said that in light of the events of last weekend and amid continued uncertainty, she will bring California’s story — one that represents innovation and hope. Butler declined to comment on whether she would run for Senate in 2024.
After Hinchliffe asked if the job was temporary, Butler responded, “This is an early-stage job for me.” “It’s day six now. I did complete induction, which usually takes three. Day, about four hours. So I would say it’s an early job for me. But my life has been dedicated to service, and that’s my commitment.”
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