Dianne Feinstein, longest serving woman in the Senate, has died at 90

September 29, 20239:09 AM ET
Heard on Morning Edition
By Scott Shafer

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who was first elected to the U.S. Senate from California in 1992 in a wave election known as "the Year of the Woman" and went on to champion gun control, has died at her home in Washington, D.C. She was 90 years old.

In a statement released Friday morning, James Sauls, Feinstein's Senate chief of staff, confirmed her death.

"There are few women who can be called senator, chairman, mayor, wife, mom and grandmother. Senator Feinstein was a force of nature who made an incredible impact on our country and her home state," Sauls wrote. "She left a legacy that is undeniable and extraordinary. There is much to say about who she was and what she did, but for now, we are going to grieve the passing of our beloved boss, mentor and friend."