Pelosi's daughter is Dianne Feinstein's primary caregiver at the Capitol, but the former speaker denies using the relationship to help her protégé replace the aging senator

• Since Dianne Feinstein returned to office in May, Nancy Pelosi's daughter has been alongside her.
• A recent report from Politico suggested Pelosi could be using her daughter to keep Feinstein from retiring, possibly helping Rep. Adam Schiff's chances of replacing her.
• Pelosi's office denied any political motives for aiding Feinstein.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi's daughter has been assisting Sen. Dianne Feinstein around the Capitol since her return from California last week, but the former speaker's office has denied suggestions in a recent report that Pelosi is trying to keep the senator in office in order to advance her preferred Senate candidate.

In a report on Thursday from Politico, the outlet noted that Pelosi's eldest daughter, Nancy Carinne Prowda, has regularly been seen alongside Feinstein since her return to Congress following a shingles diagnosis. While there is a friendly relationship between the Pelosi and Feinstein families, Politico suggested that there could be a political reason for the former speaker's daughter to assist Feinstein: ensuring Feinstein stays in Congress so Pelosi's preferred candidate can win in 2024.

In a statement to Politico and in a separate tweet linking to the published Politico story, Pelosi's communications director Aaron Bennett denied any political reason for Prowda to be helping Feinstein post-recovery. "Anyone who knows Senator Feinstein knows that her service in the Senate is entirely her own decision, and Speaker Emerita Pelosi would never suggest otherwise," Bennett said.

—aaron bennett (@abennett97) May 18, 2023

 

Feinstein, 89, missed several months of votes in the Senate due to her diagnosis in February before returning in May. Her absence made it more difficult for Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee to confirm President Joe Biden's nominees, leading several congressional Democrats to call for her to resign.

Feinstein has steadily resisted the resignation calls as several leading Democrats —Reps. Katie Porter, Adam Schiff, and Barbara Lee — have already declared to ther interest in taking her spot in 2024. 

Pelosi has endorsed her protégé Schiff in the race, helping him attain an 8-digit cash advantage over his competitors. 

But if Feinstein retires before the end of her term, California Gov. Gavin Newsom will appoint a replacement. He's already said he'll appoint a Black politician to finish her term. Historically, incumbents (even ones appointed by a governor) have an advantage in elections over their challengers.

In addition to Feinstein's recent shingles diagnosis, the long-time senator's mental acuity has been put into question recently due to reported lapses in memory.

Insider reported in February that Feinstein left a Senate vote unaware if she had participated.

"Did I vote for that?" Feinstein said.

And earlier this week, Feinstein denied ever missing time away from the Senate due to shingles.

"No, I've been here. I've been voting," Feinstein said, according to Slate and the Los Angeles Times. 

According to Rolling Stone, Feinstein's staff has found it necessary to have someone from her office alongside her at all times out of concern about what she could say to journalists.