Senator Dianne Feinstein has died at age 90. The California senator was the longest-serving woman senator in United States history after spending more than 30 years in office.
NBC News was the first to report the news, followed by a note from James Sauls, Feinstein’s chief of staff, confirming she passed away on Thursday, September 28.
“Sadly, Senator Feinstein passed away last night at her home in Washington D.C. Her passing is a great loss for so many, from those who loved and cared for her to the people of California that she dedicated her life to serving.
“Senator Feinstein never backed away from a fight for what was just and right. At the same time, she was always willing to work with anyone, even those she disagreed with, if it meant bettering the lives of Californians or the betterment of our nation.
“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.
“She left a legacy that is undeniable and extraordinary. There is much to say about who she was and what she did, but for now, we are going to grieve the passing of our beloved boss, mentor, and friend.”
Feinstein had the longest tenure of any woman in the chamber and any senator from California. The late senator was also the oldest member of the Senate at the time of her passing and had announced plans to retire at the end of her term. (She also faced calls for resignation tied to concerns about her health.)
During her groundbreaking political career, Feinstein was a vocal advocate of gun control legislation.
“It’s simple logic: If you can’t buy a beer, you shouldn’t be able to buy an assault weapon. If you can’t buy a handgun, you shouldn’t be able to buy an AR-15,”she said on the Senate floor in June 2022 while speaking in support of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
Feinstein also achieved many firsts as she rose through the ranks of the male-dominated American political landscape.
She was California’s first woman sent to the Senate, she was the first woman to sit on a Senate Judiciary Committee, she was the first chairwoman of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and she was also the first woman to chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
“It has been a great pleasure to watch more and more women walk the halls of the Senate,” she said back in November 2022, according to CNN.
When news of Feinstein’s passing broke on Friday, September 29, women in politics were quick to weigh in with condolences, many of them using the descriptor “trailblazer.”
Alexandra Whittaker is the executive director of Cosmopolitan magazine, where she manages the website and all of Cosmo's news and entertainment coverage. With more than a decade of journalism experience, Alexandra oversees multiple teams of stellar writers and editors. She crafts thoughtful editorial coverage plans from start to finish by ideating, assigning, and editing timely, search, and brand-building stories with an eye on strategy, growth, and audience development. She is a mentor with Girls Write Now and the American Society of Magazine Editors, and she is a proud Northwestern and Marquette alumna.
