PersonJewish Eligibility — Verified by JWR

Dianne Feinstein

American public official Dianne Feinstein represented California in the United States Senate from 1992 until her death in 2023.

United States

U.S. Senate Photo / Becky HammelWikimedia CommonsPublic domain

Biography

Dianne Feinstein was born in San Francisco on 22 June 1933 and built a public-service career that spanned local and national government. She served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and became mayor of San Francisco in 1978, remaining in office until 1988. In 1992 she won a special election to the United States Senate and took the oath of office on 10 November, becoming the first Jewish woman to serve in the Senate. Feinstein represented California in the Senate until her death in 2023, making her one of the longest-serving women in Senate history. Her Senate career included senior committee assignments and work on national security, the judiciary, public lands, firearms legislation and other federal policy areas. Her election in 1992 also formed part of a landmark expansion in the number of women serving in the United States Senate.

Records held by Dianne Feinstein

Official portrait of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein.

JWR Verified

Community & SocietyFirst

First Jewish Woman in the United States Senate

Record holder

Dianne Feinstein

Record value

10 November 1992

Dianne Feinstein became the 'First Jewish Woman in the United States Senate' on '10 November 1992'. This achievement occurred in Washington, D.C., when she took the oath of office after winning California's 1992 special election. The date marks the beginning of her service in the U.S. Senate, where she represented California from 1992 until her death in 2023. This record is defined as being held by the earliest Jewish woman to take the oath and serve as a member of the United States Senate.

Country represented: United States
Achievement location: Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., United States
Achievement date: 10 November 1992

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