On Tuesday, Senator Dianne Feinstein from California declared that she will not seek re-election after her current term, resulting in a significant Democratic contest for her highly desired position.
At 89-years-old, Feinstein holds the title of the oldest active U.S. senator and the senator with the longest tenure representing her state.
The competition for the available Senate position in California, a prominent and reliably Democratic state, is expected to be one of the most intense and costly races of the 2024 election cycle.
Feinstein wrote on Twitter:
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.
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.
Although Feinstein’s announcement formally opens up her seat for the upcoming election cycle, numerous California Democrats had already initiated their Senate campaigns weeks earlier. Rep. Katie Porter was the first to announce her Senate candidacy on January 10, and shortly thereafter, she publicized her endorsement from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
Late last month, former Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff, also entered the fray. Earlier this month, former House Speaker and current Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., offered a cautious endorsement of Schiff, applauding Feinstein and pledging to support her if she decided to run again.
SEE TWEET:
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.https://t.co/J1DTR8kNP2
— Senator Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) February 14, 2023
The full statement read:
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.
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. 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.
I also remain 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. And I will use my seniority on the Appropriations Committee to ensure California gets its fair share of funding.
I’m confident we can achieve these goals because we’ve done it before. 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.
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.