Senator Feinstein Returns to the U.S. Senate

Senator Feinstein, official Congressional portrait

California U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein returned to the Senate after an extended bout with shingles, allowing the Judiciary Committee to resume making recommendations on federal judiciary appointments. (The U.S. Constitution gives the U.S. Senate “Advice and Consent” powers over many appointments made by the President.)

This is her final term. Senator Feinstein has long been a friend of dam builders in the state, and her perch in the Senate Appropriations Committee gives her a powerful say in federal dams and taxpayer subsidies for dams in general. One might reasonably expect her to want to leave the Senate with legislation that cements this legacy for her political allies and thus could facilitate dam-building on western rivers for long into the future.

There are three members of the House of Representatives running for her seat: Barbara Lee, Adam Schiff, and Katie Porter. There is at least some chance that these members may be less inclined to champion river-damaging water projects than Senator Feinstein.

But some have observed that her health may force her to resign before her term ends. In that case, Governor Newsom can appoint a replacement to fill her remaining term. Such a replacement could include the Governor himself — or an “African-American woman” as he said would be his pick.

Whatever happens, U.S. Senate seats are consequential.