California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 90, passed away. She planned to retire at the end of her term after serving for 30 years.
Feinstein had a long career in politics, becoming the “first woman” in many roles:
She was the first woman president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the first woman mayor of San Francisco, and one of two of the first women elected to the U.S. Senate from California.”Dianne Feinstein, right from the start, was an icon for women in politics,” said former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.Senator Chuck Schumer adds, “She’s a legend. A legend in California as the first woman senator. A legend in the Senate. She was the leader on so many different issues.”
Feinstein has had many health scares recently. A long bout with the shingles kept her away from DC for months:
Her condition had grown more acute over the past several months, after a bout with shingles that caused serious complications, including a case of encephalitis, and prompted her to begin using a wheelchair in the halls of the Capitol.Ms. Feinstein’s long and very public decline shone a spotlight on the advanced age of members of Congress and particularly the Senate, where many continue to serve long after retirement age.
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