Political giant, mentor and role model: Silicon Valley mourns Dianne Feinstein

Silicon Valley leaders and politicos are mourning the death of California Sen. Dianne Feinstein—the longest serving female senator in history. She was 90.

Feinstein was a historic fixture in California politics and won election to the U.S. Senate in 1992 after a political career in San Francisco. After a series of health struggles and an absence from the Senate, the trailblazing lawmaker announced this year she would not seek reelection.

San Jose Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, who chairs the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, said Friday she and other Democratic lawmakers are reflecting on Feinstein’s legacy.

“Our country, state, and the Bay Area have lost a dedicated public servant with the passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein,” Lofgren said. “Each of us in the delegation values the moments we spent with her and worked with her. We treasured her grace, dignity, intelligence, vision, courage, and leadership. The California Democratic Congressional Delegation is mourning the passing of our senator, and we salute her incredible life of service.”

Feinstein’s death comes as federal lawmakers race toward a deadline to approve a budget or face a government shutdown.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said he’ll remember Feinstein for her “common sense” in championing civil rights and acknowledging the risks of wildfire and drought.

“She changed people’s lives,” Mahan said. “She was there for San Francisco in one of the city’s most harrowing moments. She increased our rights, and she protected our freedoms. She was a mother, a grandmother and a mentor to so many people. She will be missed across our country — from D.C. to California and beyond.”

For Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Ahmad Thomas, the loss is a “deeply personal” one. He worked as a senior aide for Feinstein in Washington, D.C., serving as the lead policy advisor on finance and economic policy.

“She was my first real boss and a longtime mentor. She was one of the most kind and generous people I have ever met,” Thomas said. “Behind the tough exterior, she was someone quick to smile with a wry sense of humor. She always was willing to share her wisdom. She was caring and warm with my wife Reena and my two sons. I would not have had all the opportunities that I have been afforded in my career without her, and I remain forever grateful.”

Thomas praised Feinstein for groundbreaking accomplishments such as authoring the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, enacting the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, writing the Torture Report, standing up for reproductive freedoms. Feinstein passed legislation that strengthened Silicon Valley’s business competitiveness, he said, and solved problems across the state and country.

“She came to Silicon Valley so many times where she had the opportunity to speak to our members,” he added. “In every conversation, she would lay out the unvarnished facts about issues large and small that mattered to the Silicon Valley community and our region’s economy.”

Silicon Valley Congressman Ro Khanna highlighted Feinstein’s courage in spearheading legislation on a slew of critical issues.

“Senator Feinstein was a national icon for women’s rights, gun safety legislation, and environmental causes,” Khanna told San José Spotlight. “I admire all she contributed to our state and nation, and her family and loved ones are in my thoughts and prayers. We lost a giant in public service.”

Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez said Feinstein was not just “the strongest woman in every room she entered” — she was the strongest person period.

Chavez pointed to Feinstein authoring the most significant federal gun control legislation of the past 30 years and exposed the CIA’s use of torture in 2014. She fought to protect the natural environment and negotiated a deal that led to the restoration of more than 16,000 acres of wetlands along San Francisco Bay. She also ensured that BART was extended to San Jose by securing critical federal funds.

“She was a role model who inspired generations of California women, a working mother who raised a daughter who became a superior court judge,” Chavez told San José Spotlight. “I was honored to know her, to work with her, and to have her endorse me when I ran for mayor in 2006. She touched my life in the best way – I met my husband Mike working on her 1990 gubernatorial campaign.”

Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg lauded her legacy on women’s issues and LGBTQ rights.

“Senator Diane Feinstein was a force of passion for public service,” Ellenberg told San José Spotlight. “Her dedication to our country was unmatched and her legacy of work will live on in the book of history. A trailblazer, Feinstein threw open the doors for women, myself included, and was a fierce ally for the LGBTQ+ community. May her memory be for a blessing.”

Assemblymember Evan Low first met Feinstein when he was a high-schooler — and she helped pave the way for his groundbreaking career in politics.