Dianne Feinstein, the oldest member of the U.S. Senate and the longest-serving senator from California, has died at age 90. Feinstein’s death leaves vacant her powerful Senate seat, requiring Gov. Gavin Newsom to appoint a temporary successor. The Democratic senator’s decades-long career was studded with major legislative achievements on issues including gun control and the environment.
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California has died at age 90, her office confirmed Friday.
Feinstein, a Democrat, was the oldest member of the Senate, where she served since 1992. She held her seat in the chamber longer than any other woman, and any senator from California.
She passed away Thursday night at her home in Washington, D.C.
“There are few women who can be called senator, chairman, mayor, wife, mom and grandmother. Senator Feinstein was a force of nature who made an incredible impact on our country and her home state,” her chief of staff James Sauls said in a statement.
Feinstein’s death ends a boundary-pushing political career that spanned more than half a century, and was