Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) made it clear on Wednesday — once again — that she has no plans to resign, despite growing calls for her to do so. Her decision is likely frustrating to those in her party who want to see her gone, concerned about her age and that her extended absence from the Capitol is slowing down Democrats’ consideration and confirmation of federal judges.
But her choice is also keeping an already messy California Senate primary from descending into even more chaos. One of the current challengers might get a boost if they’re appointed in her place, leaving the others with a much tougher chance of winning. Or all three could face a caretaker candidate who might even run for the seat as an incumbent.
The California senator, who is the longest-serving woman in the US Senate, has been back in the Bay Area recovering from complications due to a case of shingles since early March. She has long faced concerns about her age, health, and ability to do her job, with many Democratic insiders speculating about a perceived decline in her cognitive state last year, especially after the death of her husband. She frequently rebuffed that reporting and retirement talk, saying she had not made up her mind on running again, but ultimately decided not to.
Focus on Feinstein and her age meant some of those currently vying for her seat didn’t wait for an official retirement announcement to start their campaigns. Progressive Rep. Katie Porter, for example, launched her Senate primary campaign in early January, way before Feinstein had publicly made a decision about whether she would run for another term. Rep. Adam Schiff, who is backed by most of the California Democratic party establishment, announced his own bid a few weeks later — again, before Feinstein had made a decision.
Feinstein only announced that she would be retiring at the end of her current, fifth full term in mid-February, about a week before a third challenger, Rep. Barbara Lee formally…
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