The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle’s name is being mentioned as a possible replacement for the late Californian Senator Dianne Feinstein to serve out the remaining 13 months of Feinstein’s term. The 90-year-old Feinstein’s death was announced on Friday.
A major Democratic donor who is close to Californian Governor Gavin Newsom – who will choose Feinstein’s replacement – told the media that ‘Meghan is definitely a long-shot but in the craziness that is US politics these days it’s not impossible. Crazier things have happened.’ Feinstein’s death has produced a unique situation where Newsom, 55, California’s charismatic Governor who is considered a Presidential frontrunner should anything happen to 80-year-old President Joe Biden, has free reign to pick someone to replace Feinstein until the next election is held in November 2024.
He was placed in a similar position in October 2020 when then-candidate Biden chose another Californian senator, Kamala Harris, to be his running mate against Donald Trump. At the time, Meghan had been ‘networking among senior Democrats’ to build a grassroots campaign to fuel her political ambitions – with the US Presidency her ultimate aim.
She and Prince Harry reportedly held a virtual hour-long meeting with Gov. Newsom but he picked another candidate. A source said Governor Newsom had pledged to replace Feinstein with a black woman, adding: ‘The problem he now faces is that all the best candidates have already announced they will be running for Feinstein’s seat in November 2024, the next election. ‘Governor Newsom cannot elect any of those candidates to the position now as it would be seen as a huge, and very unfair, advantage.
