Guide Note: Democrat Dianne Feinstein is the senior Senator from California and the Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. She is the only woman to ever have served as mayor of San Francisco, California.

Fast Facts:

Elected to U.S. Senate in 1992
Party: Democratic
Estimated worth: $49-$110 million
Spouse: Investment banker Richard Blum
Religion: Jewish
Will vote for Hillary Clinton as a superdelegate

Mayor of San Francisco

After serving on the California Women Parole Board and as the first female president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Feinstein unsuccessfully ran for mayor twice. After announcing the November 27, 1978 assassination of mayor George Moscone and supervisor Harvey Milk to the public, Feinstein herself assumed the role of mayor and finished Moscone's term. She was re-elected in 1983. While serving as mayor, she proposed banning handguns throughout the city.

Senate

Feinstein won a special election to enter the Senate in 1992, filling the seat vacated when Pete Wilson became California's governor. Senator Barbara Boxer won her Senate seat as part of the same election, and the two became the only two female Jewish Senators. She was elected to a third term in 2006.

Feinstein's and Patrick Leahy's support were crucial for the confirmation of Michael Mukasey as Attorney General, following the resignation of Alberto Gonzales in 2007.

Categories

Politics | Politicians | Members of Congress

View Note History

Dianne Feinstein

The Mahalo Top 7

Official Senate Site: Dianne Feinstein
Wikipedia: Dianne Feinstein
Campaign Site: Dianne Feinstein - Senate 2006
WashingtonPost.com: Dianne Feinstein votes database
Project Vote Smart: Senator Feinstein
SFGate.com: "Feinstein backs legal immunity for telecom firms in wiretap cases" (November 9, 2007)
The New York Times: "Schumer and Feinstein Back Mukasey" (November 2, 2007)

Dianne Feinstein Recent News

Official Site: NewsRoom
Google News: Dianne Feinstein
CBS News: Feinstein Says Yes To Mukasey, Saves Nomination (November 2, 2007)
Bloomberg.com: Mukasey's Approval by Senate Boosted by Two Democrats (November 2, 2007)
CBS News: Leahy, Feinstein Urge Justice To Fill Vacant U.S. Attorney Posts (October 31, 2007)
MercuryNews.com: Feinstein seeking $1 billion for fire recovery, prevention (October 26, 2007)
ABC News: Gun Control Is Tough Sell in Congress
FOXNews.com: EPA Offers Plan to Alter Mower Emissions
CNN: Sheehan won't challenge Feinstein for Senate (2006)

Dianne Feinstein Background and Articles

Official Senate Site: Dianne Feinstein Biography
CNET News.com: Tougher data-leak law proposed (2005)
San Francisco Chronicle: "Bay lawmakers among wealthiest" (2004)
USNews.com: Dianne's Debut (1992)
Congresspedia: Dianne Feinstein

Dianne Feinstein Controversies and Criticism

Salon.com: Glenn Greenwald: Dianne Feinstein -- Bush's key ally in the Senate -- to support telecom amnesty (November 10, 2007)
Boston.com: "Fury at vote reflects a politicized process" (October 30, 2007)
Townhall.com: Senator Feinstein’s Fair Play Exposes Liberal Extremists (October 23, 2007)
Hot Air: Video: Feinstein “looking at” reviving the Fairness Doctrine (June 24, 2007)
CNSNews.com: Feinstein's Office Denies Conflict of Interest Charges (April, 2007)
Bohemian.com: Senator Feinstein's Iraq Conflict (January 24, 2007)
San Francisco Chronicle: "Former Feinstein staffer edited Wikipedia entries" (2006)
The Di Fi Watch

Dianne Feinstein Blogs and Message Boards

Wonkette: Posts about Dianne Feinstein
Crooks and Liars: Posts about Dianne Feinstein
Redstate: Posts about Dianne Feinstein
Google Blog Search: Dianne Feinstein

Dianne Feinstein Timeline

1933: Born June 22nd
1992: Elected to U.S. Senate
Google Archive News Search: Dianne Feinstein timeline

Dianne Feinstein Photos and Video

Official Site: Audio Library | Video Library | Photo Gallery
YouTube: Gonzales Hearing: Sen. Feinstein Questions The AG (Time: 7:22)
Yahoo! Image Search: Dianne Feinstein
YouTube & Google Video Search: Dianne Feinstein

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