Laphonza Romanique Butler
Laphonza Butler served as California senator from October 2023 to December 2024, appointed by Newsom after Dianne Feinstein's death. Did not seek the full term.
Laphonza Romanique Butler
- among Democratic senators5th of 50
- among all senators17th of 115
All tracked promises
Pass infrastructure investment.
Voted YES on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, November 2021).
Climate action / Inflation Reduction Act.
Voted YES on the Inflation Reduction Act (August 2022), $369B in climate spending.
Lower prescription drug prices.
Voted YES on IRA Medicare drug-pricing negotiation provisions.
Restore voting rights / John Lewis VRA.
Voted YES on cloture; failed 49-51 due to Republican filibuster + Manchin/Sinema opposition to rule change. Per /methodology, blocked-by-Congress when politician took maximally available action routes to PARTIAL.
Defend reproductive rights / WHPA.
Voted YES on Women's Health Protection Act cloture; failed 49-51 (Manchin NO).
Pass gun safety legislation.
Voted YES on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (June 2022). Assault-weapons ban did not pass.
Confirm Biden judicial nominees.
Voted YES on Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson + the majority of lower-court Biden nominees.
Support Ukraine.
Voted YES on every major Ukraine aid package 2022-2024.
Pass Equality Act / LGBTQ+ protections.
Cloture failed Republican filibuster. Respect for Marriage Act passed (signed December 2022).
Cancel student debt.
Supported Biden's broad cancellation (SCOTUS-struck-down). Approximately $138B in narrower cancellations approved.
Raise the federal minimum wage to $15.
The Raise the Wage Act of 2021 (included in early ARP drafts) was stripped on Byrd-rule objection. No standalone vote reached the floor.
Restore the SALT deduction cap.
House-passed BBB included full SALT restoration; killed in Senate. Cap remains at $10k through TCJA expiry. Per /methodology, blocked-by-Senate when politician took maximally available action routes to PARTIAL.
Tax corporations and the wealthy.
IRA imposed 15% corporate minimum tax + 1% stock-buyback excise. Largest corporate tax hike since the 1986 TRA.
Protect the Affordable Care Act.
ARP and IRA extended expanded ACA subsidies through 2025; defeated every Trump-era repeal effort during minority.
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