Trailblazing Senator Dianne Feinstein, Longtime Advocate of Gun Control Measures, Passes Away at 87

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., a vocal advocate of gun control measures and a long-time senator from California, has died, according to several sources familiar with the matter. Feinstein, the oldest member of the Senate and the longest-serving female senator, was 87.

Feinstein was a trailblazer in the Senate, shattering glass ceilings during her more than three decades in office. She was known for trying to find common ground with Republicans and was a vocal advocate of gun control measures. In February, she announced her retirement at the end of her term.

Feinstein’s health struggles had clouded her governing profile in recent months and years. She was absent from the Senate for about three months earlier this year because of a difficult bout with shingles and complications related to the virus.

Feinstein cast her last vote in the Senate late Thursday morning, according to Senate records. After she announced her retirement, President Joe Biden hailed his former Senate colleague, calling her “a champion for the American people.”

Feinstein’s death marks the end of an era in the Senate. She was the longest-serving woman in the Senate, as well as the longest-serving senator from California. Her legacy of advocacy and bipartisanship will be remembered for years to come.