Dianne Feinstein will not seek re-election, ending pioneering political career

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the former San Francisco mayor whose pioneering career paved the way for a generation of women in politics, will not seek re-election in 2024, her spokesperson told The Chronicle Tuesday.

"I am announcing today I will not run for re-election 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. "Even with a divided Congress, we can still pass bills that will improve lives. 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."

The announcement was not a surprise given that Feinstein would be 91 on Election Day 2024 and, if re-elected, 97 when her six-year term ended. Many high-profile politicians have already jumped into the 2024 race, anticipating an open contest for the first time in decades.