Laphonza Butler saves Gavin Newsom — again

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Oct 19, 2023 View in browser   By Christopher Cadelago and Alexander Nieves Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), formerly the president of EMILY's List, speaks during an event in Washington, June 23, 2023. | Susan Walsh/AP Photo BIG EXHALE: Gov. Gavin Newsom couldn’t have asked for a better outcome, with his pick for the U.S. Senate, Laphonza Butler, choosing not to run for the seat. Newsom fulfilled his pledge to appoint a Black woman to the Senate after Dianne Feinstein’s death. Now, he’s also fulfilled his goal of not interfering in a heated Senate primary featuring three top Democrats: Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee. Indeed, several of the governor’s allies are divided between the contenders, with House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi going to the mat for Schiff and the Congressional Black Caucus sticking by Lee. Butler’s decision likely clears a path for Schiff and Porter, who are polling well ahead of the rest of the field with less than five months before California’s March primary, and less than four until mail ballots start going out. If Republican Steve Garvey can’t consolidate his party — and Lee can’t find a huge spark— it’s increasingly looking like a Porter-Schiff runoff in November. Had Butler gotten in, there would have been immediate pressure on Newsom to endorse her after the governor himself said he couldn’t have conjured in his own mind a better person to serve in the Senate seat. In the 16 days since Butler was announced, he couldn’t have scripted it any better. Everyone can now go back to buzzing about her next political act: a possible run for governor in 2026 — to succeed Newsom. Maybe. As one Butler friend put it to POLITICO recently, she rarely does the thing people expect her to. IT’S THURSDAY AFTERNOON. This is California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check of California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to anieves@politico.com or send a shout on Twitter. DMs are open.   JOIN 10/24 FOR AN UPDATE ON CHIPS: America is rapidly restructuring its semiconductor supply chain and manufacturing base, thanks in part to billion-dollar initiatives like the CHIPS and Science Act. But who is winning the reward? Join POLITICO Oct. 24 to get an update on CHIPS what other challenges have emerged now that the new era is underway. REGISTER NOW.     WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY PLANS CHANGE: Newsom took a detour from his trip to China for a last-minute stop in Israel — joining a growing list of elected leaders to enter the war zone. While the stop came together very late, it also isn’t exactly unexpected. The question shouldn’t be why is he going to China and Israel, but rather why wouldn’t he? Just like China, California is closely linked to Israel both from an economic standpoint and also a cultural one. As the governor’s staff relayed, California has the largest population of Arab Americans in the U.S. and the second-largest population of Jews. Newsom’s trip comes on the heels of President Joe Biden, who helped negotiate a deal to allow some aid into Gaza while in Tel Aviv. California will also be sending medical aid and supplies to the region, including Gaza, the governor’s office said. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is in Israel today meeting with victims of the Oct. 7 attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had been in China but left quickly amid the unfolding attacks on Israel. Schumer then led a delegation to Tel Aviv, whose members were rushed to a shelter in a tight bunker during heavy rocket fire. Had Newsom not gone to Israel, he was scheduled to appear on a panel talking about the wine industry, billed as a special guest speaker along with “Sex and the City” star Sarah Jessica Parker. Wine, or war zone? It’s easy to see why he’d rather be pictured in Israel. ON THE BEATS HATE HOTLINE: As war between Israel and Hamas rages on, officials in California are worried it could translate into an uptick in hate crimes stateside. Historically, geopolitical conflicts have led to an increase in hate crimes, according to Becky Monroe, an official with the California Civil Rights Division. But California has spent years laying the groundwork to prevent and respond to hate crimes when they do happen. Launched in May, the “California vs. Hate” hotline has already gotten over 400 reports of hate incidents. Workers from the state’s Civil Rights Division, which runs the hotline, have been reaching out to Muslim, Jewish, Arab American and other cultural and religious groups to share resources before their communities become targets. The state has also provided millions in grants to religious and nonprofit organizations since 2019, to help them install security equipment and other safety measures. On Wednesday, Newsom announced an extra $20 million available in grants, and $10 million to increase police presence at places of worship. — Rachel Bluth BASS BACK FROM D.C.: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and six members of the LA City Council returned home from Washington this morning, and they’re bringing back $48 million in federal funds with them. The grant from the Department of Energy will head to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which has proposed using the money to prepare the city for growth in clean energy and electric vehicles, which tax electrical supplies, and to protect its grid from increasingly common extreme weather events. The LA delegation also took time to meet with officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, as the city is hoping to receive more funding for homelessness programs. Bass said her Washington connections have yielded results “way beyond” what she hoped. “These trips have been extremely productive,” she said, “and now bringing a delegation of council members, it expands our power and influence in D.C.” — Sejal Govindarao   JOIN 10/25 FOR A TALK ON THE FUTURE OF GRID RELIABILITY: The EPA’s proposed standards for coal and new natural gas fired power plants have implications for the future of the electric grid. These rules may lead to changes in the power generation mix—shifting to more renewable sources in favor of fossil-fuel plants. Join POLITICO on Oct. 25 for a deep-dive conversation on what it will take to ensure a reliable electric grid for the future. REGISTER NOW.     WHAT WE'RE CLICKING EXCESSIVE RESTRAINT: Hospitals are forbidden under federal law to restrain psychiatric patients except to prevent them from harming themselves or others. Restraints can be used only when other steps have failed, and they are widely discouraged by psychiatric professionals, seen as a measure of last resort that frays trust and can traumatize patients. At LA General — a public hospital serving some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the nation’s most populous county — the psychiatric inpatient unit has restrained patients at a higher rate than in any other in California, a Times analysis has found. (Los Angeles Times) STAYING SMALL: Tiny homes are increasingly California cities’ shelter option of choice for new sites to house the homeless. Newsom’s administration earlier this year said it is sending out 1,200 units statewide. San Jose and Sacramento, each set to receive hundreds, recently said they had selected their sites; as of October the state is still selecting vendors to build the homes. (CalMatters)   Follow us on Twitter POLITICO California @politicoca   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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