Senator Dianne Feinstein, a trailblazing figure in U.S. politics and the longest-serving woman in the history of the Senate, has passed away at the age of 90.

For many years, California Democrat Feinstein was a well-known and significant figure in American politics. Over the course of her more than 50-year public service career, Feinstein made a substantial impact in a variety of capacities. During her tenure as San Francisco’s mayor (1978–1988), she played a key role in managing the city’s reaction to emergencies like Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone’s assassinations. She was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992 and served as the senator from California for four terms in a row, making her the longest-serving female senator in Senate history.

Feinstein was well-known for her work on a variety of topics throughout her time in the Senate, including national security, environmental preservation, and gun control. She was a vocal supporter of tougher gun control laws and was instrumental in the 1994 federal assault weapons ban’s passage. Feinstein’s impact was felt in her positions on important Senate panels, such as the Senate Intelligence and Judiciary panels. She was the first female chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, presiding over important issues pertaining to intelligence and national security.

With her support of significant legislation, her breaking down of barriers for women in politics, and her standing as a respected voice on the national stage, Feinstein’s passing represents the end of an era in American politics. Her contributions will be seen as a component of her enduring influence on the political climate of the nation. At the age of 90, California senator Dianne Feinstein, a well-known proponent of gun control laws and a talented negotiator across party lines over her three decades in the Senate, departed from this life. Her extraordinary political career came to an end when her office confirmed her death.

Feinstein was renowned for her steadfast dedication to justice and equity as well as her willingness to cooperate across party lines with people with whom she differed in order to better the lives of Californians and the country at large. During her life, she was a senator, chairman, mayor, wife, mother, and grandmother, among other significant titles. She had a significant influence on both the nation and her own California.

Feinstein has previously declared her plan to retire at the end of her term in 2024, making her the oldest senator in the Senate and the longest-serving female senator in American history. Her decision was made in the midst of requests for her resignation and health concerns. President Joe Biden praised Feinstein’s achievements, emphasizing her bravery and composure in the face of adversity, especially while she served as San Francisco mayor. He commended her for her work defending civil freedoms, environmental preservation, and national security, emphasizing that her legacy will help the nation for many years to come.