Sen. Barbara Boxer says goodbye to California Democrats

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, retiring at year’s end after four terms, gave a moving farewell to California Democrats Wednesday, but in trademark fashion left a little in the tank to excoriate Republican Donald Trump.

Boxer, speaking at her home delegation’s national convention breakfast, said she couldn’t stand to watch Republican Donald Trump accept his party’s presidential nomination last week.

“If Ronald Reagan was ‘Morning in America,’” Boxer said, “Donald Trump is ‘Midnight in Gotham City.”

Boxer, 75, gave a speech the previous night from the main stage of the convention about the personal side of Democrat Hillary Clinton. On Wednesday, Boxer grew emotional as she paused to reflect on her time in office and her last convention speech as a senator.

She thanked California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton, who she said taught her never to be afraid. And she shared her gratitude for longtime colleague, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California. “What a partner she has been with me,” Boxer said.

Boxer, promising in retirement to be “unleashed and uncensored,” noted that some of the activists have been behind her since her first House run in 1982, and first Senate campaign in 1992.

“I never had an election for the Senate that was easy,” she said, suggesting pundits declared her finished in each cycle she came up.

But, Boxer insisted, they never understood her relationship to the grassroots.

“What those pundits didn’t understand is it only made me stronger because it makes you work even harder.”

This story was originally published July 27, 2016 at 3:46 PM.