Senator Dianne Feinstein has passed away at 90.
Despite persistent calls from both political sides urging her to resign, she continued to hold her office up until her death.
In August, Feinstein was admitted to the hospital following a fall in her home, though she was discharged later the same night. Just before the incident, Feinstein gave her daughter power of attorney.
Feinstein, a California Senator, held her position since 1992. Her career was marked by numerous pioneering achievements, including being the first woman to serve as the president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the first woman mayor of San Francisco, and one of the first two women elected to represent California in the U.S. Senate, as reported by ABC News.
Following the announcement of her passing, tributes began to flow in.
“Dianne Feinstein, right from the start, was an icon for women in politics,” said former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, according to the ABC report.
Senator Chuck Schumer added, “She’s a legend. A legend in California as the first woman senator. A legend in the Senate. She was the leader on so many different issues.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom will fill the Senate seat previously held by Feinstein. Contrary to previous reports, he has opted not to appoint someone as an early start for the 2024 election, as Feinstein had initially planned to retire at that time. Instead, he intends to designate a “caretaker” who has no intentions of running for the seat on a permanent basis.
This decision has sparked controversy, particularly in light of Newsom’s prior commitment to appoint a black woman to the Senate seat.
Currently, House Representatives Katie Porter and Adam Schiff stand out as the leading contenders vying for the seat in the 2024 election.
