Dianne Feinstein, who has represented California in the United States Senate since 1992, has died at age 90.

Feinstein, who faced serious health problems and experienced rapid deterioration in recent months, decided not to run for reelection in 2024, but had brushed aside calls for her to step down from office.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has the power to appoint someone to fill out the rest of Feinstein’s term, which ends in January 2025, and will likely do so soon. 

Statement from Rep. Jared Huffman:

Dianne Feinstein leaves a profound and enduring legacy on so many big issues, from gun safety to reproductive choice, to human rights, to Lake Tahoe and the California Desert. Her contributions to California and the nation are unmatched, and I’m honored that I had a chance to serve and work with her.

Statement from Gov. Gavin Newsom:

Dianne Feinstein was many things – a powerful, trailblazing U.S. Senator; an early voice for gun control; a leader in times of tragedy and chaos. But to me, she was a dear friend, a lifelong mentor, and a role model not only for me, but to my wife and daughters for what a powerful, effective leader looks like.

She was a political giant, whose tenacity was matched by her grace. She broke down barriers and glass ceilings, but never lost her belief in the spirit of political cooperation. And she was a fighter — for the city, the state and the country she loved. Every race she won, she made history, but her story wasn’t just about being the first woman in a particular political office, it was what she did for California, and for America, with that power once she earned it. That’s what she should be remembered for.

There is simply nobody who possessed the strength, gravitas, and fierceness of Dianne Feinstein. Jennifer and I are deeply saddened by her passing, and we will mourn with her family in this difficult time.