Murray, not Feinstein, to be 3rd in line to presidency
When senators likely elect Washington Sen. Patty Murray to become third in line to the presidency early next year, they’ll be bucking tradition slightly.
The position will become vacant once Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, leaves office in January.
Murray’s office said that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, plans to nominate Murray — who recently was re-elected after a tough race — to be Senate president pro tempore, a role that typically goes to the most senior member of the majority party.
That would be California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who is 89 years old and has served in the Senate since 1992. If she were to take the role, she would be behind two other California women in the order of presidential succession: Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The Senate president pro tem presides over the Senate in the absence of the vice president.
But Feinstein said last month that she would be declining the position.
“I’ve never thought about being the president pro tempore and I have no interest in it at this time,” Feinstein told the Washington Post on Oct. 22.
Feinstein said in a statement to The Chronicle provided by a staffer that she has other priorities, and that family issues also played a role in her decision.
“My focus is firmly on getting legislation passed that is critical to California, including bills on wildfire and drought. Between that focus and the passing of my husband earlier this year, the timing isn’t right to also serve as president pro tempore,” the statement said.
When asked Tuesday if she planned to take the position, Feinstein told Business Insider, “I haven’t thought about it, but I’ll let you know when I do.”
An aide then clarified that Feinstein “has no intention of seeking the position” and had said so previously to other reporters.
Concerns about Feinstein’s memory have plagued her for years and were reignited in April after The Chronicle reported that a number of her congressional colleagues believe she is no longer fit to serve.