"But with more than a year left in Feinstein’s term, Newsom will need to appoint someone to take her place — a freighted decision that’s certain to alienate people.
Newsom has committed to appointing a Black woman if he got a second Senate appointment, but he recently said that if Feinstein did not complete her term he would select an interim replacement rather than Rep. Barbara Lee, the only Black woman who is running for Feinstein’s seat. Lee excoriated Newsom over those comments."
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/29/gavin-newsom-feinstein-replacement-00119043#:~:text=Newsom%20had%20committed%20at%20one,is%20running%20for%20Feinstein's%20seat.