Gavin Newsom says he doesn’t want to appoint a replacement for Sen. Dianne Feinstein

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gavin Newsom said he does not want to name a replacement for Sen. Dianne Feinstein and will leave the decision to resign to her.

“I don’t want to make another appointment. “I don’t think the people of California want me to make another appointment,” Newsom said Sunday on “Meet the Press.”

Feinstein, 90, said earlier this year that she would not run for re-election in 2024. She is the oldest serving member of Congress and has faced questions about her cognitive health and memory in recent years even as she has defended her effectiveness as a representative of a state home to nearly 40 million people.

Newsom said he would make an “interim” appointment if necessary and would not select any of the candidates already running for the seat. This appears to exclude from consideration Southern California candidates Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter, as well as Bay Area Rep. Barbara Lee, who is Black.

“It would be completely unfair to the Democrats [who] have gone above and beyond,” Newsom said. “This primary is just a few months away. I don’t want to upset this.”

In 2021, Newsom said he would appoint a Black woman to replace Feinstein if she retires before the end of her term. Newsom committed to that promise during the interview.

“We hope we never have to make this decision, but I am consistently sticking to what I have said very publicly. Yes,” Newsom said.

Newsom also said he was confident a planned debate between him and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would still go ahead. He says they are still working on a date and possible venue.

He reiterated that he does not plan to run for president in 2024.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.