After more than 30 years in the U.S. Senate and a half-century in public office, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) announced on Tuesday that she will not seek reelection in 2024.
Feinstein was first elected to the Senate in 1992.
“I campaigned in 2018 on several priorities for California and the nation: preventing and combating wildfires, mitigating the effects of record-setting drought, responding to the homelessness crisis, and ensuring all Americans have access to affordable, high-quality health care,” she added. “Congress has enacted legislation on all of these topics over the past several years, but more needs to be done—and I will continue these efforts.”
In recent years, Feinstein’s continued role in public service has been the subject of speculation and scrutiny, given her advanced age. At 89, she is the oldest sitting member of the Senate.
In her Tuesday statement, Feinstein pledged to devote her final two years in office to passing legislation on gun violence, preserving U.S. lands, and promoting economic growth, all while leveraging her position on the Senate Appropriations Committee to secure funding for her state.
“Even with a divided Congress, we can still pass bills that will improve lives,” she said. “Each of us was sent here to solve problems. That’s what I’ve done for the last 30 years, and that’s what I plan to do for the next two years. My thanks to the people of California for allowing me to serve them.”
In addition to her role on the Appropriations Committee, Feinstein currently sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Rules and Administration.
First elected to the Senate in 1992, she is the longest-serving senator in the history of her state and the longest-serving female senator in U.S. history.
