Sen. Dianne Feinstein says she won’t seek reelection

By

Michael R. Blood, The Associated Press

Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. gets in an elevator to the Senate, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014, as she arrives to release a report on the CIA’s harsh interrogation techniques at secret overseas facilities after the 9/11 terror attacks. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California announced Tuesday that she will not seek reelection in 2024, signaling the end of a groundbreaking political career spanning six decades.

Feinstein said in a statement that she intended to remain in Congress through the end of her term.

“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.

The announcement was widely expected. Feinstein, who turns 90 in June, is the oldest member of Congress. In recent years, questions have been raised about her cognitive health and memory, though she has defended her effectiveness representing a state that is home to nearly 40 million people.