California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom said Sunday he would appoint only an “interim” replacement for 90-year-old Sen. Diane Feinstein’s seat if she can’t serve her full term through 2024.
Newsom’s remark marked the first time he has explicitly laid out such a plan if Feinstein, who failing health has resulted in call for her to retire, decides to step down.
“I don’t want to get involved in the primary,” Newsom said on NBC’s “Meet the Press. “It would be unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off [to win the open Feinstein seat in 2025.] That primary is just a matter of months away. I don’t want to tip the balance of that.”