Trailblazing CA Senator Dianne Feinstein Dead At 90

WASHINGTON, DC — California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a trailblazing Democrat known for finding common ground with Republicans on issues ranging from gun control to environmental protection during her three-decade career, has died, a post on her official X account confirmed Friday morning. At 90, she was the chamber’s oldest member and the longest-serving woman in the Senate.

"Sadly, Senator Feinstein passed away last night at her home in Washington, D.C.," James Sauls, Feinstein's chief of staff, said in a statement Friday morning. "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."

Elected to the Senate in 1992 in the "Year of the Woman," Feinstein aimed to bridge the gap between her party and the GOP, helping to strengthen the nation's security, combat crime and violence, battle cancer, and protect natural resources, her Senate biography noted. She was a voice for the LGBTQ+ community on issues including gay marriage, and advocated for preserving the Mojave Desert, Lake Tahoe, and California's forests.

Feinstein was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1969 and became its first female president nine years later, according to The Associated Press. When Mayor George Moscone was shot dead alongside Supervisor Harvey Milk at City Hall, it was Feinstein who found Milk’s body.

She became San Francisco's first female mayor, and later one of California’s first two female senators, eventually becoming the first woman to head the Senate Intelligence Committee as well as serve as the Judiciary Committee’s top Democrat.

"Senator Feinstein never backed away from a fight for what was just and right," Sauls said. “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.”

Among Feinstein's most notable achievements was the enactment of the federal assault weapons ban in 1994, which banned selling, manufacturing and importing military-style assault weapons. The ban expired in 2014. She also led the six-year review of the CIA’s detention and interrogation program that culminated in a law that banned some post-9/11 interrogation methods.

Feinstein Remembered As Trailblazing 'Pioneer'

Representative Nancy Pelosi shared a statement Friday on behalf of herself, her husband Paul, and her daughter Nancy Corinne on their heartbreak about the passing of their friend.

"Her indomitable, indefatigable leadership made a magnificent difference for our national security and personal safety, the health of our people and our planet, and the strength of our Democracy," the statement continued. "Standing strong amid horror and heartbreak – from the brutal murders of Harvey Milk and George Moscone to the deadly HIV/AIDs epidemic – she offered our City a beacon of strength and hope."

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina remembered Feinstein as a "trailblazer," and said she lived an "incredible life dedicated to public service."

"She was one of the most effective legislators in recent memory because of her willingness to work across the aisle in good faith in order to solve complex problems," Tillis said. "It was a (sic) honor to serve with her. Susan and I extend our deepest condolences and prayers to Senator Feinstein’s family and staff during this difficult time."

Anna Kaplan, a former New York State Senator who is running against U.S. Rep. George Santos, also remembered Feinstein as a "trailblazer and a pioneer for women."

"My deepest condolences go out to her family. Rest easy, Senator," she said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

California Congressman Ted Lieu said the country lost an icon who led "through grit, grace, and incredible intelligence."

"She succeeded in politics at a time when few women could," Lieu added. "She paved the way for a historic number of women to have a seat at the table and a voice in Congress."

Lieu added that Feinstein's career was guided by a "love of our country and American values."

"We’re a better nation because of her leadership. I join her family, friends and our country in mourning her," he said.

Other tributes rolled in Friday, with Maxwell Alejandro Frost, a congressman in central Florida, calling Feinstein "a champion for Gun Violence Prevention that broke barriers at all levels of government."

"We wouldn’t have had an assault weapons ban if it wasn’t for Senator Feinstein and due to her tireless work, we will win it back," he said. "May her memory be a blessing."

And U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, of Connecticut, said Feinstein was a "lonely voice fighting against gun violence" from 1994 — when she passed the assault weapons ban as a first-term senator — all the way through the Sandy Hook killings.

"The modern anti-gun violence movement, now stronger than the gun lobby, would not exist but for Dianne," he said.

Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State, Democratic presidential nominee and first lady, said she was "deeply saddened" by the news.

"She blazed trails for women in politics and found a life's calling in public service," Clinton said. "I'll miss her greatly as a friend and colleague and send my condolences to all who loved her."

Sauls, Feinstein's chief of staff, noted 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," the statement concluded. "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."