Pioneering Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein dies aged 90

Pioneering Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein has died at the age of 90, according to multiple sources.

A family member confirmed that she passed away on Thursday night,The New York Times reported, with staff in her office informed on Friday morning.

Tributes poured in from both sides of the political aisle with New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand paying tribute to the “force to be reckoned with” and Missouri Republican Josh Hawley describing it as “an honor to serve with her” in the Senate.

Her death comes after a series of health setbacks this year, including an extended time out of the Senate following a hospitalisation for shingles – all of which fuelled growing concerns about her ability to represent the people of California in Washington.

She returned to Congress several months later, looking frail as she was pushed into the chambers in a wheelchair to cast her votes on crucial bills.

Her appearance prompted calls for her to step down from her position – a call she flatly refused.

In August, she was briefly hospitalised again after her office said she suffered a “minor fall” in her California home.

It also emerged that she had ceded power of attorney to her daughter.

While she remained defiant in her ability to see out her term in the Senate, she did announce plans to retire at the end of her term next year, sparking a major primary fight for her successor.

The Independent has reached out to Feinstein’s office and the White House for comment on her passing.

At the time of her death, Feinstein was the oldest sitting senator in the US Senate, with a long and storied career in American politics.

As a pioneer for women in Washington, she broke down many barriers in Washington marking a series of firsts.

Among her achievements, she was the first woman president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the first woman mayor of San Francisco, and one of two of the first women ever to be elected to the US Senate for the state of California.

As well as being a prominent liberal – championing feminism, reproductive rights, gun control and environmental issues – Feinstein was also known for her bipartisanship, stretching across the divide to work with her Republican counterparts.

As news of her death spread across America on Friday, tributes flooded in from Democratic and Republican colleagues alike on X.

Democrat Ms Gillibrand remembered Feinstein as “my role model, my mentor, and a dear friend”.

“Dianne Feinstein was a force to be reckoned with. She was one of the most powerful voices in the Senate, and she blazed a trail for generations of women who followed her into elected office. I was so grateful to have her as my role model, my mentor, and a dear friend,” she wrote.

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy spoke about Feinstein’s record as a key player in the fight against gun violence.

“From 1994, when she passed the Assault Weapons Ban as a first term Senator, until the tragedy in Newtown, Dianne Feinstein was a lonely voice fighting against gun violence,” he wrote on X.

“The modern anti-gun violence movement, now stronger than the gun lobby, would not exist but for Dianne.”

Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton paid tribute to Feinstein as a trailblazer for women in politics as well as a “friend”.

“I’m deeply saddened by the passing of Dianne Feinstein. She blazed trails for women in politics and found a life’s calling in public service,” she said in a tribute on X.

“I’ll miss her greatly as a friend and colleague and send my condolences to all who loved her.”

Several Republicans also paid their respects, with the Senate GOP simply writing: “Senator Dianne Feinstein was a trailblazer. She leaves an indelible mark on the Senate and the country.”

“Erin and I were saddened to hear of the death of Senator Dianne Feinstein. It has been an honor to serve with her in the Senate and on the Judiciary Committee. No one was more welcoming when I came to the Senate than she, and no one was a better example,” wrote Republican Mr Hawley.

“She was tough, incredibly smart, and effective. Always willing to work across the aisle to get things done, she was a person of unquestioned integrity. I admired her and will miss her in the Senate. Erin and I send our deepest condolences to her family.”

Florida Senator Rick Scott also joined the growing chorus of Republicans paying his respects, writing: “Ann and I are heartbroken by the loss of Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

“Dianne’s more than 30 years in the Senate reflect a life of service to her state of California and our nation. We are praying for her family, staff and all who knew and loved her.”

Starting out in local politics, Feinstein was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1969 before she became its first female president nine years later in 1978.

She then became San Francisco’s first female mayor after Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk were killed by disgruntled colleague Dan White at City Hall.

She was first elected to represent California in the US Senate in 1992 – a time dubbed the “Year of the Woman” – marking the first of two women to become elected senator in California.

She held onto her seat ever since – surviving multiple relection campaigns – and marked several other firsts, as the first woman to head the Senate Intelligence Committee and the first woman to serve as the Judiciary committee’s top Democrat.

More follows…