Adam Schiff Sworn in as California’s Newest U.S. Senator to Fill Late Feinstein’s Seat

After more than two decades in the House of Representatives, Burbank Democrat Adam Schiff is set to be sworn in Monday as California’s newest U.S. senator, replacing Sen. Laphonza Butler.

Schiff, 64, will take the oath of office to fill out the last few weeks of the term of the late Dianne Feinstein, who died in September 2023 — then, in January, he will begin serving the full six-year term to which he was elected last month, when he defeated Republican Steve Garvey.

Gov. Gavin Newsom had appointed Butler in October 2023 to temporarily fill Feinstein’s seat. On Sunday, Newsom officially announced that Schiff will take over for Butler beginning Monday “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 Sunday, Newsom’s office said.

Schiff, meanwhile, last week 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.

Schiff’s Monday swearing-in will take place on the floor of the U.S. Senate in the Washington and be carried live on C-SPAN. Alex Padilla, California’s other U.S. senator, is expected to escort Schiff onto the floor for the ceremony.

Schiff, who is Jewish, will be sworn in on a Maimonides Mishneh Torah, according to his office. The edition on which Schiff will place his hand was printed in Italy in 1490, his office said.

In a separate ceremony on Jan. 3, Schiff will be sworn in again, to begin his full a six-year term.

On Friday, Schiff cast his last House vote after 24 years and, in a post on social media, thanked his constituents of Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, 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.

Friday, Butler gave a 14-minute speech on the Senate floor 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.”