Sen. Dianne Feinstein is dead at 90. Photos show her time as the longest-serving woman in the Senate.

Talia LakritzJan 12, 2024, 23:19 IST

Sen. Dianne Feinstein was the longest-serving female senator in US history.Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California died on September 28 at the age of 90.
She was the oldest sitting US senator and the longest-serving woman in the Senate.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein died on September 28 at the age of 90, bringing her time as the longest-serving woman in the Senate to a close.

Elected in 1992, the Democratic senator from California held office for three decades.

Here's a look back at her historic career.

Dianne Feinstein was elected to the Senate in 1992, which became known as the "Year of the Woman."

Dianne Feinstein speaks at the Democratic National Convention in 1992.Mark Reinstein/Corbis via Getty Images

Feinstein and Moseley Braun became the first women to sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Carol Moseley Braun (left) and Dianne Feinstein during a session of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1993.Ron Sachs/Consolidated News Pictures/Archive Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

She was also the first woman to chair the Senate Rules Committee and Senate Intelligence Committee.

Dianne Feinstein during an Intelligence Committee hearing.Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images

She helped pave the way for more women to join her in the Senate.

Senators Susan Collins, Patty Murray, Olympia Snowe, Carol Moseley Braun, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Barbara Mikulski, Dianne Feinstein, and Mary Landrieu in 1997.CQ Roll Call via Getty Images

One of Feinstein's landmark legislative achievements was passing an assault-weapons ban in 1994, though it expired after 10 years.

Diane Feinstein holds an AK-47 assault rifle during a 2003 appearance with Governor Gray Davis and police chiefs from around the state to urge Congress to reauthorize the assault weapons ban signed into law in 1994.Bob Chamberlin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

She helped establish the national child-abduction emergency broadcasting system known as Amber Alerts.

Kay Bailey Hutchison and Diane Feinstein attend a news conference to speak about Amber Alerts in 2003.Tom Williams/Roll Call/Getty Images

Feinstein also successfully pushed to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act in 2012 and 2022.

Dianne Feinstein, Jeanne Shaheen, and Patty Murray hold a news conference in 2012 to call on the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.Alex Wong/Getty Images

There were lighter moments during her Senate career as well, like when she shared pretzels and mustard with her Republican colleague Sen. Arlen Specter after winning a bet.

Arlen Specter, R-PA, presents pretzels and mustard from Philadelphia to Diane Feinstein as a result of a lost bet on the NBA Finals in 2001.Tom Williams/Roll Call/Getty Images

There were lighter moments during her Senate career as well, like when she shared pretzels and mustard with her Republican colleague Sen. Arlen Specter after winning a bet.

As the first woman to preside over a presidential inauguration, she spoke at President Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony in 2009.

Barack Obama listens to Dianne Feinstein during his inauguration as the 44th President of the United States of America in 2009 in Washington, DC.Alex Wong/Getty Images

Feinstein was known for her bipartisanship and willingness to work across the aisle, which garnered criticism as Congress became increasingly polarized.

Lindsey Graham and Dianne Feinstein attend the Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting on Supreme Court justice nominee Amy Coney Barrett in 2020.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images/POOL

In 2023, Feinstein was absent from the Senate for almost three months due to a case of shingles amid questions about her ability to continue serving in office.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer escorts Dianne Feinstein as she arrives at the U.S. Capitol following a long absence due to health issues on May 10, 2023.Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

She was the oldest sitting senator and the longest-serving woman in the Senate until her death at age 90 on September 28.

Dianne Feinstein in the Capitol on September 6, 2023.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Inside the Civilian Conservation Corps, the New Deal agency that employed 2.5 million men to preserve national forests

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Sen. Dianne Feinstein is dead at 90. Photos show her time as the longest-serving woman in the Senate.

Dianne Feinstein was elected to the Senate in 1992, which became known as the "Year of the Woman."

Feinstein and Moseley Braun became the first women to sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

She was also the first woman to chair the Senate Rules Committee and Senate Intelligence Committee.

She helped pave the way for more women to join her in the Senate.

One of Feinstein's landmark legislative achievements was passing an assault-weapons ban in 1994, though it expired after 10 years.

She helped establish the national child-abduction emergency broadcasting system known as Amber Alerts.

Feinstein also successfully pushed to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act in 2012 and 2022.

There were lighter moments during her Senate career as well, like when she shared pretzels and mustard with her Republican colleague Sen. Arlen Specter after winning a bet.

As the first woman to preside over a presidential inauguration, she spoke at President Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony in 2009.

Feinstein was known for her bipartisanship and willingness to work across the aisle, which garnered criticism as Congress became increasingly polarized.

In 2023, Feinstein was absent from the Senate for almost three months due to a case of shingles amid questions about her ability to continue serving in office.

She was the oldest sitting senator and the longest-serving woman in the Senate until her death at age 90 on September 28.