Dianne Feinstein, the 85-year-old Democratic senator from California, has won re-election to a fifth full term. Under California’s jungle-primary system, Feinstein was facing a fellow Democrat, former state senate president Kevin de León, who was challenging her from the left.
De León had ridden an initial wave of progressive outrage over Feinstein’s perceived moderate reputation. But his inability to fundraise sufficiently, along with a formidable machine backing Feinstein, meant the veteran senator was never in real trouble following the primary this summer.
There are questions in Democratic circles in California about whether Feinstein, who in addition to her advanced age is also caring for her ailing husband, will fill out her full term. California’s next governor, Democrat Gavin Newsom (who also won his race Tuesday), would be in a position to appoint a successor if Feinstein does not remain in the seat for the next six years.
