Dianne Feinstein

Dianne Emiel Feinstein[lower-alpha 2] (née Goldman; June 22, 1933 – September 29, 2023) was an American politician who served as a United States senator from California from 1992 until her death in 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as mayor of San Francisco from 1978 to 1988.[3]

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Dianne Feinstein
Official portrait, 2004
United States Senator from California
In office November 4, 1992 – September 29, 2023
Preceded by	John Seymour
Succeeded by	Laphonza Butler
Senatorial positions Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2015 Preceded by Jay Rockefeller Succeeded by Richard Burr Chair of the Senate Narcotics Caucus In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2015 Preceded by Joe Biden Succeeded by Chuck Grassley Chair of the Senate Rules Committee In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009 Preceded by Trent Lott Succeeded by Chuck Schumer
38th Mayor of San Francisco
In office November 27, 1978 – January 8, 1988[lower-alpha 1]
Preceded by	George Moscone
Succeeded by	Art Agnos
President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
In office January 9, 1978 – December 4, 1978
Preceded by	Quentin L. Kopp
Succeeded by	John Molinari
In office January 8, 1974 – January 8, 1975
Preceded by	Ron Pelosi[1]
Succeeded by	Quentin L. Kopp
In office January 8, 1970 – January 8, 1971
Preceded by	John A. Ertola[2]
Succeeded by	Ron Pelosi[1]
Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
In office January 8, 1970 – December 4, 1978
Preceded by	William Blake
Succeeded by	Louise Renne
Constituency	At-large district (1970–1978) 2nd district (1978)
Personal details
Born	Dianne Emiel Goldman (1933-06-22)June 22, 1933 San Francisco, California, U.S.
Died	September 29, 2023(2023-09-29) (aged 90) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Colma, California
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Jack Berman ​ ​ (m. 1956; div. 1959)​ Bertram Feinstein ​ ​ (m. 1962; died 1978)​ Richard C. Blum ​ ​ (m. 1980; died 2022)​
Children	Katherine
Parent	Leon Goldman (father)
Education	Stanford University (BA)
Signature
Dianne Feinstein's voice Feinstein gives opening remarks during a joint HPSCI–SSCI hearing on intelligence reform since the September 11 attacks Recorded September 13, 2011

A San Francisco native, Feinstein graduated from Stanford University in 1955. She was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1969 and immediately became the board's first female president upon her appointment in 1970. In 1978, during a third stint as the board's president, the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk drew national attention. Feinstein succeeded Moscone as mayor and became the first woman to serve in that position. During her tenure, she led the renovation of the city's cable car system and oversaw the 1984 Democratic National Convention. Despite a recall attempt in 1983, Feinstein was a popular mayor and was named the most effective mayor in the country by City & State in 1987.[4][5][6]

After losing a race for governor in 1990, Feinstein was elected to the U.S. Senate in a 1992 special election.[7] In November 1992, she became California's first female U.S. senator; shortly afterward, she became the state's senior senator when Alan Cranston retired in January 1993. Feinstein was reelected five times. In the 2012 election, she received 7.86 million votes,[8] the most popular votes received by any U.S. Senate candidate in history.[9] Feinstein authored the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban. She was the first woman to chair the Senate Rules Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee and the first to preside over a U.S. presidential inauguration. Feinstein chaired the Senate Intelligence Committee from 2009 to 2015[10] and was the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2017 to 2021.[11]

During Feinstein's final years in office, there were concerns about her health and mental acuity to serve.[12][13][14][15] In February 2023, Feinstein announced she would not seek reelection in 2024.[16] She died in office in September 2023, at the age of 90.[17][18][19][20] By the time of her death, Feinstein was the oldest sitting U.S. senator and member of Congress. She was also the longest-serving U.S. senator from California and the longest-tenured female senator in history.[21][22]