Democrats have been openly pressuring Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to resign since she has been physically unable to return to work. She is still unable to fully recover from a bout with shingles.
Feinstein’s term is up in 2024, and she’s said she’s not seeking re-election. The 89-year-old senator has missed 58 Senate votes since she was diagnosed with shingles in February.
Rep. Barbara Lee is planning to run for her seat and that’s what’s likely behind calls from Rep. Ro Khanna (a Lee supporter) to cry out for Feinstein to resign.
“It’s time for Sen. Feinstein to resign. We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty,” Khanna said Wednesday, becoming the first Democratic lawmaker to openly call for her to step down.
If Feinstein resigns before her term ends, under California law, Gov. Gavin Newsom would have the power to appoint a replacement to serve until the next general election.
Newsome has already promised to appoint a black woman, so most people assume that would be Lee since she has powerful endorsements already.
California Republicans are tired of all of this appointing, and Freshman Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) has now introduced a Constitutional Amendment providing that “U.S. Senators, like Members of the House, must always be elected rather than appointed.”
“I’m introducing a Constitutional Amendment providing that U.S. Senators, like Members of the House, must always be elected rather than appointed,” Kiley wrote.
It reads:
“Section 1. No person shall be a Senator from a state unless such person has been elected by the people thereof. When vacancies happen in the representation of any state in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.
“Section 2. This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as a part of the Constitution.”
I'm introducing a Constitutional Amendment providing that U.S. Senators, like Members of the House, must always be elected rather than appointed. pic.twitter.com/Swb0k3vxuV
— Kevin Kiley (@KevinKileyCA) April 17, 2023
