Newsom's selection of Laphonza Butler to fill Feinstein's Senate seat came together so quickly that Butler's mother learned of the appointment from a news alert

• After Sen. Feinstein's death in September, Gov. Newsom sprang into action to select a replacement.
• Newsom would eventually tap Laphonza Butler, a well-connected former union leader and ex-UC regent.

After the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein in late September, California Gov. Gavin Newsom sprang into action to find a suitable replacement — a difficult dilemma as he was mourning a close friend and mentor while also juggling competing interests lobbying him over his eventual pick.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York told Newsom that he needed to expedite his decision-making process in tapping a replacement, given the realities of the slim Democratic margin in the upper chamber and what was an impending government shutdown, according to Politico.

While the shutdown was eventually averted, Newsom over the course of 48 hours weighed a number of options before eventually selecting Laphonza Butler, a well-connected former union organizer who was also a former regent of the University of California and until recently was the president of EMILY's List.

The whirlwind selection process involved Feinstein's family signing off on the pick, Newsom's staff ensuring that they had the requisite forms needed to officiate the selection, and the governor's aides communicating with the office of California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, per the report.

Politico first reported on October 1 that Newsom had tapped Butler to replace Feinstein.

The Senate selection process had been so swift that Butler's mother found out about the appointment through a news alert, according to two individuals with knowledge of the timeline who spoke with the news outlet.

On October 3, Butler was sworn in to office, joining her Golden State colleague, Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla.

Butler is the first Black woman to represent California in the US Senate and only the third Black woman in US history ever to serve in the upper chamber.

While Newsom said before Feinstein's death that any potential appointed senator would be a caretaker who wouldn't be actively running for the seat, he reversed course before selecting Butler and said the eventual pick would be free to enter the Senate contest if they desired to do so.

Butler has not yet announced if she'll seek a full Senate term in 2024.

Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee, Katie Porter, and Adam Schiff are the leading officeholders already in the race for the Senate seat.