Dianne Feinstein, who served in the US Senate for three decades, has died at age 90. She served in the Senate for longer than any other woman in history. In recent years, Feinstein's health had been declining, prompting many to question if she should continue to serve in the Senate.
The senator was dealing with complications from shingles, including post-shingles encephalitis, which can cause confusion, memory issues, and problems with language, among other symptoms. Still, Feinstein did not seem open to quitting her job and had said that she would continue to serve until the end of her term.
Feinstein was a centrist Democrat. She tried to find common ground with Republicans, but was also an advocate for gun control. “I truly believe that there is a center in the political spectrum that is the best place to run something when you have a very diverse community," she told CNN in 2017. "America is diverse; we are not all one people. We are many different colors, religions, backgrounds, education levels, all of it."
In 1978, she became the first female president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Later, she became San Francisco's first female mayor and then one of California's first female senators. At the time of her death, she was the oldest member of the Senate. Her visible cognitive decline was part of what led to more discussions about term limits. Although she agreed to retire at the end of her term, she felt she was still fit to serve. “The real question is whether I’m still an effective representative for 40 million Californians, and the record shows that I am," she said, CNN reported.
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President Joe Biden previously praised Feinstein, saying that she was "a passionate defender of civil liberties and a strong voice for national security policies that keep us safe while honoring our values.” At the time, he added that she was "one of the very best" senators he served with.
