Newsom's selection of Laphonza Butler to fill Feinstein's Senate seat came together so quickly that Butler's mother learned of the appointment from a news alert
Sen. Laphonza Butler of California speaks at the US Capitol.Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
<ul><li>After Sen. Feinstein's death in September, Gov. Newsom sprang into action to select a replacement.</… [+2499 chars]