Sen. Dianne Feinstein announces retirement at the end of her term


Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on Tuesday announced she will not run for re-election in 2024, and will be retiring at the end of her current term. "I intend to accomplish as much for California as I can through the end of next year when my term ends," Feinstein said in a press release that highlighted her past accomplishments while promising to "still pass bills that will improve lives" with her remaining year in office.
Feinstein's announcement ends longtime speculation over whether the Senate's oldest current member would run for re-election, and comes amid reports of precipitous mental decline that has allegedly impacted her ability to legislate. While Feinstein and her backers have adamantly denied any cognitive issues, a number of high-profile California Democrats, including Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff, had nevertheless already launched their own campaigns for her still-occupied seat in recent weeks, preempting Tuesday's announcement on the presumption that she wouldn't run.
"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," Feinstein noted in her press release. "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."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Feinstein's more than 30 years in the Senate have been peppered with historic firsts, including her being the first woman senator from California, the first Jewish woman senator, the first woman to sit on the Judiciary Committee, and the first woman to chair the Intelligence Committee.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.
-
July 19 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include a Medicaid time bomb, and Donald Trump's fixation with the Fed's Jerome Powell
-
5 hilariously cutting cartoons about the Department of Education
Cartoons Artists take on being rotten to the core, budget cuts, and more
-
Kartoffelsalat (potato salad) recipe
The Week Recommends German dish is fresh, creamy and an ideal summer meal
-
Gavin Newsom mulls California redistricting to counter Texas gerrymandering
TALKING POINTS A controversial plan has become a major flashpoint among Democrats struggling for traction in the Trump era
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year
-
US inflation jumps as Trump tariffs 'bite'
Speed Read Consumer prices are climbing and the inflation rate rose to its highest level in four months