Newly appointed California Sen. Laphonza Butler, a labor leader and activist who has never run for political office, announced that she would not compete for a full Senate term in 2024, The Los Angeles Times reports.
Her announcement ends weeks of speculation about whether she would join a crowded candidate field that includes prominent fellow Democrats.
Butler said in a statement, according to The Times, “Knowing you can win a campaign doesn’t always mean you should run a campaign. I know this will be a surprise to many because traditionally we don’t see those who have power let it go. It may not be the decision people expected but it’s the right one for me.”
Laphonza Butler is only the third Black woman to be a U.S. Senator.
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