aquascoot wrote on Sep 30
th, 2023 at 6:13am:
surely you aren't still in office at 90...
Feinstein had planned to retire at the end of her term
in 2025, and a crowded Democratic primary was already
underway for her seat.
Feinstein's death at the age of 90 is a reminder that
the US Congress is turning grey.
The memberships of the House and the Senate have
both trended older in recent decades. The Senate’s
median age exceeded 65 this year, and is about
13 years older than the median in 1981, according
to data published by FiveThirtyEight; in the House the
median is now nearly 58, an increase of
9 years over
that same period.
In her final months, Feinstein was far from the
towering presence she once was on the US political
stage.
She sometimes struggled to recall the names of
colleagues, frequently had little recollection of
meetings or telephone conversations, and at times
walked around in a state of befuddlement, according
to half a dozen lawmakers and aides who spoke about
the situation on the condition of anonymity.
Currently, Representatives Barbara Lee, Adam Schiff
and Katie Porter are running to fill Feinstein’s Senate
seat.