Politicians From Both Sides of the Aisle Pay Tribute to Senator Feinstein

Appreciations for Sen. Dianne Feinstein poured in from both sides of the aisle as news of her death spread on Friday, with many lawmakers and others who knew her during her long career in San Francisco politics and her three decades in the U.S. Senate lauding her legislative accomplishments and the example she set for others.

“Dianne Feinstein was many things — a powerful, trailblazing U.S. Senator; an early voice for gun control; a leader in times of tragedy and chaos,” Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, a Democrat, wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “But to me, she was a dear friend, a lifelong mentor, and a role model not only for me, but to my wife and daughters for what a powerful, effective leader looks like.”

Ms. Feinstein served 31 years in the U.S. Senate and was San Francisco’s 38th mayor. She was a consistent and puissant liberal voice in the national debate on issues like gun control, immigration and the use of torture by U.S. intelligence agencies.

In a statement issued on Friday, President Biden said Ms. Feinstein “made history in so many ways, and our country will benefit from her legacy for generations.”

“Serving in the Senate together for more than 15 years, I had a front-row seat to what Dianne was able to accomplish,” the statement continued. “It’s why I recruited her to serve on the Judiciary Committee when I was Chairman — I knew what she was made of, and I wanted her on our team.”

President Biden also pointed to her legacy as one of the leading women in American government, citing Ms. Feinstein as “a role model for so many Americans” and mentor of “countless public servants.”

“She had an immense impact on younger female leaders for whom she generously opened doors. Dianne was tough, sharp, always prepared, and never pulled a punch, but she was also a kind and loyal friend, and that’s what Jill and I will miss the most.”

Upon entering the Capitol on Friday morning, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, another San Francisco politician, told reporters, “It’s very sad for all of us … may she rest in peace.”

Willie Brown, a close ally of Senator Feinstein who served as mayor of San Francisco and Speaker of the California Assembly, fondly remembered his first meeting with her in the 1960s. Mr. Brown, who is Black, had been blocked from buying a home in the Forest Knolls neighborhood of San Francisco and, as Black residents began to gather in protest, Ms. Feinstein, who was at the time little known in the city’s political world, joined them.

“This woman showed up with a baby carriage with her daughter on a Sunday morning,” Mr. Brown said. “It was the first ever civil rights demonstration in San Francisco for fair housing.”

What followed were years of friendship both within and outside the political arena. “She was a partner,” Mr. Brown said, adding that, “Anybody who ever worked with Dianne was working with someone who had command of the subject matter, command of the facts and an eager appetite for more information.”

Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles called Ms. Feinstein “a trailblazer on whose shoulders I, and women in elected office all across America, will always stand.” The mayor added that, “she worked harder than anyone I knew on Capitol Hill.” Ms. Bass directed flags at City Hall to be flown at half-staff.

Tributes also arrived from her Republican colleagues in the Senate. In a post on X, Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida called Ms. Feinstein “a political pioneer” who was “intelligent, hard working and always treated everyone with courtesy and respect.” Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa and now the oldest member of the Senate, said the two had “a wonderful working relationship.”

“She’s a true public servant, I’ll miss her,” he said.

Representative Barbara Lee of California, a Democrat who is running to replace Ms. Feinstein in next year’s election, called her “a trailblazer and a giant” who “broke glass ceilings for women in politics and fought fearlessly for safer communities free of gun violence.”

Representative Katie Porter, another California Democrat vying for Ms. Feinstein’s seat, hailed “her leadership on gun violence prevention and anti-torture made our nation more just.” At the time of publication, Representative Adam Schiff, Democrat of California, had not issued a statement on Senator Feinstein’s death.

Thomas Fuller, Jill Cowan and Reid J. Epstein contributed reporting.