California Governor Gavin Newsom may be looking at a high-profile replacement for ailing Senator Dianne Feinstein. Rumor has it that Oprah Winfrey has made the short list of candidates to fill the seat in the event that the 89-year-old steps down. Could this be the first stop on Oprah's path to the White House?
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Dianne's health has been failing.
She recently was out of the office for 10 weeks as she recovered from complications from shingles, including encephalitis. Now, it sounds like Gavin has begun working on a plan to replace Dianne, which includes appointing a Black female candidate. Oprah is reportedly among the most likely picks, according to the Daily Mail.
Oprah has expressed interest in entering the political arena.
In 2018, CNN reported that the talk show queen had begun seriously considering a presidential run. The idea came just two years after another TV personality won the electoral vote, prompting many weary citizens to criticize the idea of another nonpolitician holding the highest office in the country.
One conservative talking head skewered the idea.
"Whether or not Oprah is qualified to serve as a senator is up for debate," Terry Schilling reportedly said, per the Daily Mail. "But what shouldn't be debatable is that the people of California, just like any other state, deserve the best person possible representing them, not someone whose chief qualification is their sex and skin color."
Oprah may make a good option thanks to her nonpolitical ties.
The 69-year-old would only serve as a placeholder until the end of Dianne's term on January 3, 2025, when a new senator would be elected. Barbara Lee is expected to have to duke it out with current political competitors Adam Schiff and Katie Porter. Picking Oprah for the job would allow Gavin to stay out of the fray and help him avoid having to endorse one of the candidates by giving them Dianne's job.
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Oprah wouldn't be the first person to turn their Hollywood success into political power.
Californians have gotten used to seeing celebs make the transition from the screen to some of the highest offices in the state (and beyond). That being said, after nearly a decade of divisive politics and lackluster performances from those at the top, many people want to see politics left to the professionals — us included.
