Wave Wire Services
WASHINGTON — After nearly a quarter-century in the House of Representatives, Adam Schiff was sworn in Dec. 9 as California’s newest U.S. senator, replacing Sen. Laphonza Butler.
Alex Padilla, California’s other U.S. senator, escorted Schiff across the floor of the Senate where Vice President Kamala Harris administered the oath of office.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve all Californians as their next United States senator,” Schiff said in a statement. “My family came to the Golden State when I was a child in the hope of finding a strong economy, safe neighborhoods and good schools. And we found all that we could hope for in each of these respects.
“I will be a tireless advocate for Californians in every part of the state and work across the aisle to deliver on day one,” he added.
Schiff, who is Jewish, placed his hand on the Maimonides Mishneh Torah for his swearing-in, according to his office. The edition was printed in Italy in 1490.
In a separate ceremony on Jan. 3, Schiff will be sworn in again, to begin his full six-year term.
“The work ahead of us will not be easy — nothing worth doing ever is,” Schiff said in his statement. “But my promise is to work every day to deliver results, and make California’s future brighter for all of us in this Golden State,” Schiff said.
The 64-year-old will fill out the last few weeks of the term of the late Dianne Feinstein, who died in September 2023. In January, he will begin serving the full six-year term to which he was elected last month, when he defeated Republican Steve Garvey.
“I recognize that I stand on the shoulders of giants,” Schiff said in his statement. “Former Sen. Dianne Feinstein leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of courage and effectiveness. Nobody can ever fill her immense shoes, but I will continue to be inspired by her example.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom had appointed Butler in October 2023 to temporarily fill Feinstein’s seat. On Dec. 8, Newsom officially announced that Schiff will take over for Butler “to ensure Californians have their duly elected representative seated as soon as possible” — a move that had been expected. Butler resigned her Senate seat effective Dec. 8, Newsom’s office said.
Last week Schiff resigned the House seat he’s held since 2001, through several redistricting changes. Next month, his former seat in the 30th Congressional District will be taken over by Rep.-elect Laura Friedman, the former assemblywoman who scored an easy victory last month over Republican Alex Balekian.
Prior to his swearing in, Schiff said that he didn’t want President Joe Biden to issue a preemptive pardon to protect potential targets from prosecution by President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump previously remarked members of Congress who investigated the events of Jan. 6, 2021, where his supporters raided the Capitol, should be imprisoned. Trump said he would leave decisions up to his attorney general, Pam Bondi.
Schiff said such a pardon would establish a partisan precedent, and would be unnecessary. Schiff cast his last House vote Dec. 6 and, in a post on social media, thanked his constituents of Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Hollywood, West Hollywood and surrounding communities.
“I’m really looking forward to serving you in the U.S. Senate, and I want to thank the people all over California for that opportunity,” Schiff wrote. “We have so much to do.”
Schiff said he’s been meeting with both Republican and Democratic senators and added there’s a “real culture” of finding common ground.
“I’m looking forward to delivering for the people of the great state of California,” he said.
Schiff handily defeated Garvey, the former Dodger star, in last month’s general election, capturing 65.67% of the vote.
Butler, a longtime adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris, was the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the Senate, the first Black lesbian to openly serve in Congress, and the third Black woman to serve in the Senate.
Butler gave a 14-minute speech on the Senate floor Dec. 6 in her departing remarks.
“As I end this journey as the junior senator representing 40 million Californians, it is a day that I want to thank them and thank Governor Newsom for giving me the honor and privilege of serving our great state,” Butler said.
She called it a “remarkable honor “ to follow in the footsteps of Feinstein and walk the same hallways as former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, the first Black woman to serve as assistant majority leader, and Harris.
“As policymakers, it is up to us to plant seeds that will inspire future generations to understand and imagine what is possible,” Butler posted on social media. “While my time in the Senate is over, my work to plant those seeds will continue on.”
In a statement Dec. 8, Newsom said, “When Senator Laphonza Butler took her seat in the Senate a year ago, she brought with her a lifetime of lessons learned from organizing and advocating for opportunity and justice. In just a short time, she has left an indelible mark — proving that true leadership isn’t measured by the length of service, but by the depth of impact.”
Newsom noted that, during her tenure, “Senator Butler championed policies to strengthen worker protections, raise wages, expand affordable housing, and create economic opportunities for all Californians.”