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California Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who has represented the Golden State in the U.S. Senate since 1992, announced Tuesday that she will not seek re-election in 2024.
"I am announcing today I will not run for reelection in 2024 but intend to accomplish as much for California as I can through the end of next year when my term ends," Feinstein said in a statement.
Feinstein, the longest-serving female senator ever, is also the oldest sitting senator at age 89.
"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."
FEINSTEIN RAISES UNDER $600 AS OTHER CALIFORNIA SENATE CANDIDATES JUMP IN
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., walks through the Senate subway on November 28, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Feinstein's career in politics began in the late 1950s as a fellow at the Coro Foundation. She was later appointed by then-California Gov. Pat Brown to serve on the California Women's Parole Board in 1960, a position she held until 1966. Feinstein served as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 1970 to 1978. She later served as president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and went on to serve as the mayor of San Francisco from 1978 to 1988.
Feinstein made an unsuccessful bid for governor of California in 1990 and won a special election to serve in the Senate two years later in 1992.
Feinstein said she remains "focused on passing commonsense legislation to fight the epidemic of gun violence, preserving our pristine lands and promoting economic growth – especially to position California for what I believe will be the century of the Pacific."
She also vowed to use her "seniority on the Appropriations Committee to ensure California gets its fair share of funding" prior to the end of her term in 2025.
DIANNE FEINSTEIN SAYS SHE WON'T STEP DOWN EARLY DESPITE CONCERNING MENTAL HEALTH REPORTS
Feinstein vowed to use her "seniority on the Appropriations Committee to ensure California gets its fair share of funding" prior to the end of her term in 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
"I’m confident we can achieve these goals because we’ve done it before," she said. "From the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban to the 2014 CIA torture report, from preserving Lake Tahoe and the Mojave Desert to passing the first significant global warming legislation, from protecting student athletes from abuse to protecting consumers from harmful chemicals, and more recently improving our efforts to combat wildfire and drought, we have improved the lives of millions."
Throughout her more than 30-year career in the Senate, Feinstein has held many prominent roles. From 2007 to 2009, Feinstein served as chair of the Senate Rules Committee. Later, from 2009 to 2015, she served as chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, as well as chair of the Senate Narcotics Caucus. Most recently, from 2015 to 2017, Feinstein served as vice-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Feinstein said that even "with a divided Congress, we can still pass bills that will improve lives" and that each senator 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," Feinstein concluded. "My thanks to the people of California for allowing me to serve them."
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., speaks as GOP Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine listen during a news conference at the Capitol on February 9, 2022, in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
From October to December 2022, filings from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) revealed Feinstein raised a mere $558.91.
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Ahead of Feinstein's announcement, a handful of House Democrats announced they would run for her seat in the 2024 election.
Both Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., announced their bids for Feinstein's Senate seat last month. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., is also expected to announce later this month that she will run for the seat.
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