Feinstein Says She Will Not Seek Sixth Senate Term in 2024
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said Tuesday that she would not seek re-election in 2024, ending her career as the oldest member of Congress and longest-serving senator from California.
Key Quotes: In a statement, Feinstein said, “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 added, “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. My thanks to the people of California for allowing me to serve them.”
For Context: Feinstein, 89, has served in the U.S. Senate since 1992; she was re-elected in 1994, 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2018. Along with former Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), she was California’s first female U.S. senator. In recent years, however, she became a symbol of “gerontocracy” — the idea that Congress includes too many seniors. In April 2022, an anonymous Democratic senator and former staff raised concerns about her mental fitness. Top Democrats are already lining up to fill her Senate seat; Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Katie Porter (D-CA) announced campaigns even before Feinstein’s announcement.
How the Media Covered It: Coverage was initially neutral and prominently featured across the spectrum. The New York Times (Lean Left bias) briefly listed Feinstein’s age as 88 years, not 89.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
Feinstein will retire rather than run again in 2024Sen. Dianne Feinstein, whose extraordinary career in California politics spans more than 50 years, announced Tuesday that she won’t seek reelection.
“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.
The news wasn’t surprising: Feinstein, who at 89 is the oldest member of the Senate, raised just $559 in the final quarter of 2022 and had $9,969 in her campaign account on...
From the Left
Dianne Feinstein will not seek re-election, ending pioneering political careerSen. 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...
From the Right
Sen. Dianne Feinstein will not seek reelection in 2024Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) announced that she will not seek reelection in 2024, clearing the way for a crowded Democratic primary field for her California Senate seat.
Feinstein, 89, said Tuesday she would retire at the end of her term. Reps. Katie Porter (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) have already announced their campaigns for her seat.
“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," she said in a statement. “Even with...
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