Laphonza Butler, the Senate’s newest member, arrived on Capitol Hill having never won public office but bringing plenty of political ties, both pro and con, to dozens of her fellow lawmakers.
While Butler was president of EMILY’s List, which boosts Democratic women candidates who support abortion rights, the organization helped steer $28 million to support current lawmakers and $7.7 million against some of Butler’s new colleagues, according to a Bloomberg Government analysis of campaign finance reports.
Having served at the helm of a group that helped, or hindered, new colleagues’ campaigns in the 2022 cycle, makes for an unusual foundation ...