Rep. Kiley Denounces Appointment of Senators by Governors Before Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s Replacement Sworn In

In a House floor speech on Tuesday, Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) criticized the practice of letting governors make appointments to fill the seats left vacant by senators who pass away or resign. He mentioned that California Gov. Gavin Newsom had appointed two senators—one of whom is Laphonza Butler, who was sworn in on Tuesday to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. “This is very much contrary to the spirit of the 17th Amendment, which calls for the direct elections of senators,” he said. Mr. Kiley also mentioned a House resolution he introduced that “will simply say that in order to be a United States senator, just as to be a United States representative, you have to get there by an election of the people.”