'Trailblazer:' U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein's Pioneering Life In Photos

CALIFORNIA — California U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who was elected to the Senate in 1992 and became a prominent voice for gun safety, has died, her office confirmed Friday. She was 90.

Remembered as a "trailblazer" by many of her colleagues, Feinstein broke gender barriers for women in politics, both locally and nationally. After the death of San Francisco mayor George Moscone in 1978, Feinstein became the city's first female mayor. She was later elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992 becoming one of California's first two female senators. Feinstein was also the first woman to head the Senate Intelligence Committee and the first woman to serve as the Judiciary committee’s top Democrat.

Although Feinstein championed many firsts for women in politics, her greatest legislative accomplishment was advocating for gun safety. In 1994 the Senate approved her amendment to ban manufacturing and sales of certain types of assault weapons. Although the law later expired, Feinstein never stopped pushing for stricter gun measures.

In recent years, Feinstein's health began to deteriorate. The senator had recently announced she would not run for a sixth term next year after missing several months of work due to health issues.

Feinstein is survived by her daughter Katherine, her granddaughter and three stepchildren.

See photos from the storied career of Senator Dianne Feinstein below.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.