You would think Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D. Calif.), at 89, would be ready to retire, wouldn’t? She hasn’t said if she will be retiring or running for reelection, but she is still 89 years old.
Feinstein will be facing potential 2024 primary challengers with larger reputations. These are Reps. Adam Schiff (D. Calif.) as well as Katie Porter (D. Calif.). Feinstein has been consistently trounced by her primary opponents throughout her time in the Senate. Let’s face it, if one of these fools were to take over my Senate seat, I would also consider retiring.
Feinstein may be considering running for the presidency next year, but she needs to get her fundraising skills in order. According to The Hill, she raised $600 in the third quarter of 2022 and just over $100,000 for the entire year.
Moreover, her Fund for the Majority PAC raised only $300 in the last quarter and $35,000 for the entire year 2022. Compare those numbers to Schiff’s $21 million cash at the end of 2022 and Porter’s $7.4 million at the time.
Breitbart suggests Porter and Schiff won’t be alone in their quest for Feinstein’s seat.
According to the site, “Many California members of Congress, including Senate and state House lawmakers, will also run for the seat. This will create a crowded primary in which only the top two vote-getters can continue to the general elections in November 2024.”
There has been much speculation and talk about Feinstein’s declining cognitive and physical health. The New York Times reported last spring that Democrats tried to keep Feinstein’s condition secret, but it was becoming increasingly difficult.
According to half a dozen legislators and aides who spoke on condition of anonymity, Feinstein, 88, sometimes has trouble recalling the names of her colleagues and often has difficulty recollecting telephone conversations or meetings. She also walks around confused about why she is becoming increasingly obsessed with questions about whether she’s fit to serve as a senator representing California’s 40 million residents.
We previously pointed out that Feinstein was getting older in an embarrassing way.
Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times columnist, called Feinstein on Wednesday to end his career.
Feinstein has been subject to persistent questions regarding her performance despite a marked decline in mental ability. With a lot of help from Senate staff, Feinstein has made it through these years. I believe that, barring any obvious incapacity to the contrary, Feinstein should be allowed to complete her term.
However, running again would be a horrible idea. She is clearly not ready for the challenges of a campaign, much less six more years in the Senate. If she tried to run for reelection, it would be a shameful and undeserved loss. This would be an embarrassing and sad end to a remarkable, historic career.
Does all of this mean Feinstein plans to retire? We don’t know.
According to The Hill, Feinstein stated that she would most likely decide on her reelection decision by spring.
Feinstein’s impressive run in the Senate is not due to politics. However, her age and declining health indicate that Feinstein’s time is up. She’ll make the right choice for her but, if she has to run again, she will need to increase her fundraising.
