Following weeks of speculation, longtime California Sen. Dianne Feinstein announced Tuesday that she won’t seek reelection in 2023, leaving the U.S. Senate seat she’s held for more than three decades open.
Cue the candidacies.
So far, three Democrats have officially thrown their hats in the ring: Burbank-area Rep. Adam Schiff, Orange County Rep. Katie Porter and, on Wednesday, Rep. Barbara Lee from the Bay Area.
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. Even with a divided Congress, we can still pass bills that will improve lives.
— Senator Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) February 14, 2023
Feinstein’s legacy
Feinstein is the state’s longest-serving senator, holding her seat since 1992. She’s also the oldest sitting member of Congress at age 89, so her announcement didn’t come as much of a surprise. She says she’ll finish out her term before stepping down.
Some of her major accomplishments include being the first woman to chair the Senate Intelligence Committee, pushing forth legislation to protect marriage equality and increase pay for federal firefighters, and paving a path for women in politics. Plus, one of the hallmarks of her tenure has been bipartisan relations with Republicans.
Porter’s background
Porter is an Iowa native and an attorney. She’s lived in California since 2011. She worked as a law professor before working under then-California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris as an independent monitor in a major nationwide mortgage settlement. In 2018, she was elected the first Democrat…
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