Senate majority at risk as Senator Dianne Feinstein, 89, is hospitalized with shingles – weeks after John Fetterman was also hospitalized with clinical depression
- Feinstein’s staff announced last month that she would not seek re-election
- She missed some Senate votes this week but is expected to make a full recovery
- “I hope to return to the Senate later this month,” the California senator said
Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California was hospitalized with shingles in recent days and is now being treated in her hometown of San Francisco, her office said Thursday.
Feinstein missed a key vote on Wednesday when the Senate voted 50-46 to block a rule by the Biden administration that allows pension fund managers to consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors when making investment decisions. She also missed two Senate Judiciary Committee hearings.
“I was diagnosed with a case of shingles during the February break. I was hospitalized and being treated in San Francisco and am awaiting a full recovery. I hope to return to the Senate later this month,” she said through her spokesman, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The news of Feinstein’s hospitalization comes weeks after it was announced she was ending her long and momentous political career.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) was hospitalized with shingles, her office said
There was some confusion at first when Feinstein told reporters she wasn’t aware her employees had sent out a statement with the announcement.
She had resigned from her crucial role as Chair of the Judiciary Committee after it was widely reported that she had difficulty remembering details about staff and legislation.
Some Democrats also fretted over their handling of the confirmation hearing for current Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
Shingles is a virus — the same one that causes chickenpox — that can cause a painful blistering rash. It is not considered life-threatening, but is usually very painful.
She was first elected in 1992 and is now the oldest incumbent Senator.
Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania also missed the votes this week as he continues treatment for clinical depression at Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Their absence pointed to the fragility of the narrow 51-to-49 Democratic Senate majority (including three independents who side with the party).
Despite stepping down as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democrats only have an 11-10 majority on that body, in which the minority can delay nominations if membership is evenly distributed.
Dianne Feinstein addresses the 1992 Democratic National Convention. She was elected to the Senate in November 1992 and has been in office ever since.
San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein is shown in her office on December 11, 1978.
Dianne Feinstein, the first female President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, at San Francisco City Hall in San Francisco, California, September 28, 1971.