Dianne Feinstein ‘hopeful’ about return to Senate next week

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is “hopeful” she will return to Capitol Hill next week following a brief hospitalization and months-long recovery from a case of shingles.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) did not mention the 89-year-old Feinstein during a Tuesday news conference, but a Politico reporter snapped a photo of Schumer’s notes as he took questions.

“I spoke with Sen. Feinstein yesterday. We are both hopeful she can return to the Senate next week,” one section of the notes read.

“Senator Feinstein continues to make progress in her recovery, however, we don’t have a timeline yet for her return to Washington which is dependent on her medical team saying it is safe to travel,” a spokesperson for Feinstein told The Post, adding that she and Schumer spoke Sunday night.

A spokesman for Schumer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Feinstein was sidelined in February after being diagnosed with shingles and has spent the intervening months recovering at her California home.

Her ill health has followed mounting concerns over her mental acuity.

According to Democratic senators and former aides, the former San Francisco mayor has been unable to remember the names of longtime colleagues and even discussed stepping down with Schumer — only to later forget those conversations.

Feinstein announced in February that she would not seek re-election in 2024, but bungled that message by forgetting her staff put out a statement earlier than she expected.

Her latest absence has fueled speculation on Capitol Hill that she could “no longer fulfill her duties,” with her absence from the Senate Judiciary Committee stalling President Biden’s nominations and leading to calls for her resignation.

Last week, “Squad” Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) became the latest Democrat to call for the ailing senator to step down.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom pledged in 2021 to replace Feinstein with a black female if she chose to resign.

The oldest member of the Senate has maintained she is “committed to the job” and planned to “return as soon as possible,” but in the interim would “work from home in San Francisco,” according to a statement in April.

Schumer in recent months floated a temporary replacement for Feinstein to keep the nominating process on the Senate Judiciary Committee running, but Senate Republicans opposed the move.

“With all due respect to Sen. Feinstein, I object,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), ending an effort that required unanimous consent to pass.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) argued permitting a Feinstein replacement would only allow President Biden and Democrats to “force through their very worst nominees.”

Feinstein’s looming retirement has prompted a handful of House Democrats to announce 2024 campaigns for her seat, including Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.).