The death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein means California Gov. Gavin Newsom will be forced to appoint an interim replacement ahead of the 2024 elections when voters will get a say.

Feinstein held the seat since 1992, holding back a generation of aspiring Golden State politicians now eager for a chance to replace her.

Newsom, who appointed the state’s other senator Alex Padilla to replace Kamala Harris in 2021 when she became vice president, has publicly fretted about the decision.

In 2021 Newsom promised to appoint a black woman to Feinstein’s seat in the event it became available before a general election.

That left many thinking the spot would go to Rep. Barbara Lee, a longtime California progressive who had already been running for the seat in 2024 when Feinstein planned to retire.

But earlier this month Newsom all but ruled out Lee — saying he did not want to interfere with the current primary.

“It would be completely unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off. That primary is just a matter of months away. I don’t want to tip the balance of that,” Newsom told “Meet The Press.”

California insiders say Newsom is now boxed into a corner.

“I kept wincing as additional requirements got put on, and I don’t even know why. He is free to appoint anyone he wants including himself. but he seems to have eliminated a lot of very good candidates,” said California GOP Rep. Darrell Issa.

Below is a list of five names experts told The Post could be at the top of Newsom’s list.

The odds are provided by Hank Sheinkopf, a longtime Big Apple political handicapper.

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber (3 to 1)

Weber, 75, already owes her current job to Newsom, who appointed her to replace Padilla in 2020. She won a full term in the job in 2022.

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber (3 to 1)

It’s unclear whether she would want to give up the safe seat for a placeholder Senate position.

Despite owing her career to Newsom, Weber played a major role as secretary of state in facilitating the 2021 recall election against him.

“She’s elected statewide, poses no threat to Newsom, is easily identifiable as a black woman, has won statewide, and as long as there are no blemishes, it works,” Sheinkopf said.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass ( 5 to 1)

Bass would be a relatively safe choice.

A former California state assembly speaker who spent a decade in Congress, Bass was elected mayor of Los Angeles in 2022.

She’s been a popular mayor, but insiders say she might not be interested in the placeholder spot.