Key takeaways:
- Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) passed away at the age of 90, leaving a vacant seat in the Senate.
- Feinstein had served in the Senate for more than 30 years and was known for her compassion and dedication to public service.
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) will now have to pick a caretaker for the seat, sparking a new wave of competition.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), a political giant and iconic trailblazer for women in politics, died Thursday night at the age of 90. Her death leaves a vacant seat in the Senate, which will now be filled by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., choked up and called for a moment of silence Friday morning on the floor where Feinstein’s desk was draped in a black cloth with a vase of white roses sitting on top. Schumer described Feinstein as “one of the most amazing people who ever graced the Senate, whoever graced the country.”
Feinstein had served in the Senate for more than 30 years and was known for her compassion and dedication to public service. She had declined physically in recent years, and pledged not to run again in 2024 this February after a shingles diagnosis sidelined her from Congress for months.
Tributes poured in quickly Friday from both Democrats and Republicans, honoring Feinstein’s legacy and her commitment to public service. A separate moment of silence was later held on the House floor.
Feinstein’s death leaves a vacant seat in the Senate, and Newsom will now have to pick a caretaker for the seat. Competition was already stiff among ambitious California House Democrats, eager for a shot at one of the safest and most stable jobs in the Senate. Feinstein’s death will no doubt spark a new wave of competition for the seat.
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