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California Senator Dianne Feinstein will not seek to retain her position as a leading Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“After being the principal Democrat on the Judiciary Committee for four years, I will not seek the presidency or the post of a non-commissioned member of the next Congress,” Feinstein said in a statement Monday.
“California is a huge state facing two existential threats – wildfires and drought – which are only getting worse with climate change. At the next Congress, I plan to increase my attention to these two crucial issues, ”she added.
Dick Durbin, the Illinois senator and Democratic whip, said he would seek the job.
“I intend to run for first Democratic place on the 117th Congress Judicial Committee. I was on the committee for 22 years, and I am its longest-serving member who is not currently on another Senate committee, ”he said. “We must roll up our sleeves and work to repair the damage of the past four years and protect basic civil and human rights.”
Feinstein, 87, has faced growing calls from progressives to step down from the judicial committee after his handling of Supreme Court confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett.
Feinstein closed the contentious hearings with full-body endorsement of Lindsey Graham, the Republican chair of the committee, and hailed the debates as “one of the best hearings I’ve been to,” despite many other Democrats lamenting the approach of the Republicans. to occupy the seat of the late Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Brian Fallon, executive director of Demand Justice, argued that Feinstein had “undermined the Democrats’ position” during the hearings. Naral Pro-Choice America, a leading reproductive rights group, called Feinstein “completely out of step with the American people,” saying “the committee needs new leadership.”
Feinstein also angered some of her fellow Democrats at Barrett’s first confirmation hearing, in 2017 for an appeals court, when she said Barrett’s opposition to abortion must be rooted in her religion and wondered if that would influence his decisions on the bench, saying “dogma lives loudly in you.”
Republicans grabbed this phrase, saying it was offensive to Catholics. The backlash helped Barrett rise through the ranks of Supreme Court hopefuls.
Feinstein had a long career in politics. She became mayor of San Francisco in 1978, following the assassinations of activist Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone. She has served in the United States Senate since 1992 and played an important role in the CIA’s torture investigations during the wars in the Middle East as the former president of the intelligence group. She faced a tough primary race in 2018, when the California Democratic Party voted to back her opponent.
Feinstein said she plans to continue serving on the judiciary, credits and intelligence, but would not seek the role of top Democrat on any of those committees.
In a statement, Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer said he was “grateful for Senator Feinstein’s leadership and contributions to our caucus and to our country” as a judge.
Vivian Ho contributed to this report
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