Memorial honors trailblazing senator Dianne Feinstein: ‘She was a lioness’

Kamala Harris and mayor London Breed make remarks in a private service as mourners pay their respects at San Francisco’s city hall

At a memorial for Dianne Feinstein on Thursday, Joe Biden praised the late senator as a dear friend and a woman of deep integrity who fought to protect what was important to the US: freedom, civil liberties, security and the constitution.

“She was always tough, prepared, rigorous, compassionate. She always served the people of California and our nation for the right reasons,” Biden said in recorded video remarks played at the memorial outside San Francisco city hall.

Continue reading...

Laphonza Butler sworn in to US Senate to fill Dianne Feinstein’s seat

Butler becomes only the third Black female senator in history, following the death of Feinstein last week at age 90

In a unique and historic moment on Capitol Hill, former union leader and Democratic strategist Laphonza Butler was sworn in by Kamala Harris on Tuesday as the newest member of the Senate, replacing California Senator Dianne Feinstein after her death last week and becoming only the third Black female senator in history.

Butler, 44, was appointed by California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, on Sunday, just two days after Feinstein died at her home in Washington DC. Butler is a longtime fundraiser and strategist in California’s Democratic circles and was the head of Emily’s List, a national organization that raises money for female candidates who support abortion rights.

Continue reading...

California governor appoints Laphonza Butler to Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat

Butler will be the only Black woman, and the first openly LGBTQ+ person to represent the state, serving in the chamber

Gavin Newsom, the California governor, has named Laphonza Butler, a Democratic strategist and former labor leader, to fill the Senate seat held by Dianne Feinstein, who died on Thursday.

The appointment fulfills Newsom’s pledge to appoint a Black woman to the Senate, while shirking calls to name Barbara Lee, a Black Bay Area congresswoman who is already running for the position in 2024.

Continue reading...

Feinstein death inspired lawmakers to avoid shutdown, Pelosi says

California Democrat says loss of Feinstein may have focused politicians on, ‘Let’s get the job done to keep government open’

The death of the California senator Dianne Feinstein may have helped inspire US lawmakers to avoid a federal government shutdown, the former House speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

Speaking on Sunday, to CNN’s State of the Union, the California Democrat mourned the loss of Feinstein and said: “Some of the senators said that maybe her departure and the sadness that went with us focused people more on, ‘Let’s get the job done to keep government open for the people.’”

Continue reading...

Senator Dianne Feinstein hospitalized after falling in her home

California senator, 90, was only in hospital for ‘an hour or two’, spokesperson told the Chronicle

The California US senator Dianne Feinstein, 90, was hospitalized on Tuesday evening after suffering a fall in her home, a spokesperson said.

“Senator Feinstein briefly went to the hospital yesterday afternoon as a precaution after a minor fall in her home,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “All of her scans were clear and she returned home.”

Continue reading...

Dianne Feinstein vows to return to her post as Democrats call for her to resign

Representatives Ro Khanna and Dean Philips tweet echoing sentiments as ailing senator has missed 60 of 82 votes taken so far

Senator Dianne Feinstein, the oldest member of the upper chamber of the US Congress, said she plans on serving out her term despite growing calls for her to resign.

Feinstein, 89, has not voted in Congress since February, and has been away from Capitol Hill after being hospitalized for shingles treatment in March. “I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that it’s safe for me to travel. In the meantime, I remain committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco,” she said.

Continue reading...

California senator Dianne Feinstein, 89, announces she will not seek re-election

Feinstein, who has sat in US Senate since 1992, sets off race among Democrats to succeed to vacant seat

Dianne Feinstein , the 89-year-old senator from California who has served in the chamber for three decades, said she will not seek re-election in 2024.

“I am announcing today I will not run for re-election in 2024 but intend to accomplish as much for California as I can through the end of next year when my term ends,” Feinstein said in a statement.

Continue reading...

Dianne Feinstein rebuffs young climate activists’ calls for Green New Deal – video

The California senator has been criticised for her response to a group of children and teenagers asking her to support the Green New Deal. Video footage shows Feinstein flatly rejecting the activists’ request, telling them: 'I’ve been doing this for 30 years. I know what I’m doing'

Continue reading...

‘You didn’t vote for me’: California senator responds to young activists on Green New Deal

Children and teenagers from Sunrise Movement say Dianne Feinstein reacted with ‘smugness + disrespect’

The California senator Dianne Feinstein is facing criticism over a video of her response to a group of children and teenagers asking her to support the Green New Deal.

The video clip shows parts of a Friday morning meeting between the Democrat and young activists from the Sunrise Movement. Founded in 2017, the group organizes young people to fight climate change and support the Green New Deal.

Continue reading...

The Democrats’ Kavanaugh Gambit Will Swing the Midterms to the GOP

Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speak to reporters about the FBI's investigation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., October 4, 2018. his is impetuous, but I think the electoral map has changed with the Kavanaugh decision.

Trump rally crowd chants ‘Lock her up!’ about Sen. Feinstein

Chants of "Lock her up!" rang once again throughout an Iowa arena as President Donald Trump rallied supporters Tuesday night. But this time, the staple of Trump's 2016 campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton had a new target: California Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

“Any ‘Her’ Will Do”: Due Process for Boys Like Kavanaugh, But…

President Donald Trump encouraged rally-goers in Iowa on Tuesday in a chant of "Lock Her Up," appearing to refer to Sen. Dianne Feinstein . Two days after apologizing to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh "on behalf of our nation" for subjecting him to one Senate hearing and a brief FBI probe into several sexual assault allegations against him before allowing him to be confirmed to his lifetime appointment, President Donald Trump clearly dropped the pretense of defending "due process" as he laughed along as audience members chanted "Lock her up!" after he criticized Sen. Dianne Feinstein in Iowa on Tuesday night.

‘Lock her up!’ Trump crowd chants a ” but this time it’s for DiFi

Chants of "Lock her up!" rang once again throughout an Iowa arena as President Donald Trump rallied supporters Tuesday night. But this time, the staple of Trump's 2016 campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton had a new target: California Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

California’s candidates for governor to meet for lone one-on-one…

California's candidates for governor and U.S. Senate are infiltrating television, Facebook feeds and mailboxes with campaign ads and slick mailers, but there's one place voters aren't likely to see them - the debate stage. On Monday, a San Francisco public radio studio will be the venue for the lone debate -- or "conversation," as it's been billed -- in the race for governor between Democratic Lt.