Feinstein to Step Down as Top Democrat on Senate Judiciary Committee

Durbin announces bid to replace her

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, listens during a news conference in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 22, 2020. Alex Wong/Getty Images

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) announced late Monday that she will not be seeking a leadership position in the Senate Judiciary Committee, after which Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) signaled that he will seek the position.

The 87-year-old congresswoman announced, “After serving as the lead Democrat on the Judiciary Committee for four years, I will not seek the chairmanship or ranking member position in the next Congress.”