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<h2>Congresswoman Lateefah Simon is a progressive Democrat and nationally recognized advocate for civil rights and social justice running for re-election in California’s 12th Congressional District.  </h2><h5>She currently serves as a Vice Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and of the Congressional Equality Caucus. As the first Muslim woman elected to Congress from California and the first member of Congress born with congenital blindness, Congresswoman Simon was also appointed to serve as a Deputy Whip for Policy. She currently serves on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the House Small Business Committee. </h5><p>Congresswoman Simon has brought her 30 years of organizing experience and rootedness in community to Congress.  She has successfully passed three bipartisan bills in the House of Representatives aimed at expanding opportunities for small businesses in the East Bay and successfully secured over $11 million in transformative federal funding to improve public safety, public transit and expand opportunities for constituents of California’s 12th Congressional District. </p><span class="image image-framed image-right image-tilt-right" style="width: 40%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/ec75aa9f-a339-4fe2-814b-294e71ce3ccc/6a45648c-81a2-4a28-9e44-839d8900e690/cd1d2df9-15c4-415b-8181-fb6f38459499.webp?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=2&amp;con=8&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=-23&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=345%2C0%2C3238%2C2304&amp;w=1500" alt="" title="right-50" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="right" variant="framed"></span><span class="caption" style="display: none;"></span></span><h4><strong>Congresswoman Simon began her career of advocacy at age 16 as an outreach coordinator for the Young Women’s Freedom Center.</strong></h4><p>At age 18, she gave birth to her eldest daughter, Aminah, and quickly learned as a young single mother that government wasn’t working for people like her. A year later, she became Executive Director of YWFC and spent the next decade earning national acclaim for her advocacy on behalf of marginalized young women. In 2003, at age 26, Congresswoman Simon became the youngest woman to receive a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship.</p><h4>Congresswoman Simon was later chosen by then-San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris to lead the creation of  Back on Track.</h4><span class="image image-framed image-right image-tilt-right" style="width: 40%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/ec75aa9f-a339-4fe2-814b-294e71ce3ccc/1e1146a8-ef7b-4aee-9503-37ac7877f447/1e1146a8-ef7b-4aee-9503-37ac7877f447.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=5&amp;con=4&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=25&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=299%2C210%2C2076%2C2701&amp;w=1500" alt="" title="right-50" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="right" variant="framed"></span><span class="caption" style="display: none;"></span></span><p>Back on Track was a highly effective, first-of-its-kind anti-recidivism initiative for young adults charged with low-level offenses.</p><p>Congresswoman Simon also served as Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, where she launched successful community-based initiatives such as the Second Chance Legal Services Clinic.</p><p>She would go on to become Program Director of the Rosenberg Foundation, where she launched a fund to incubate and accelerate bold ideas from the next generation of progressive leaders in California.</p><h4>In 2016, galvanized by the death of Oscar Grant, Congresswoman Simon ran and was elected to the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors.</h4><p>Born legally blind, Lateefah relies solely on public transportation to go about her day and sought to make BART more affordable for working families and transit-dependent people like herself.</p><span class="image image-framed image-left image-tilt-left" style="width: 40%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/ec75aa9f-a339-4fe2-814b-294e71ce3ccc/34f03b2c-8559-4f4b-9a19-a7c44d8793b9/34f03b2c-8559-4f4b-9a19-a7c44d8793b9.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=28&amp;usm=11&amp;rect=39%2C63%2C468%2C376&amp;w=1500" alt="" title="left-50" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"></span><span class="caption" style="display: none;"></span></span><p>Congresswoman graduated from Mills College with a B.A. in Public Policy, and later earned her MPA from the University of San Francisco. In 2016, Lateefah became president of the Akonadi Foundation, an Oakland-based racial justice organization. In 2020, she was appointed a senior advisor on police reform for California Governor Gavin Newsom. Congresswoman Simon also served on the Board of Directors for the San Francisco Foundation, on the Advisory Committee for Human Rights Watch U.S, as an Oxfam Ambassador, and the Board of Directors for Rosenberg Foundation and Tipping Point Foundation.</p><p></p><p></p><h4>Congresswoman Simon currently resides in Oakland.</h4><p>Congresswoman Simon is running for re-election to represent <strong>California’s 12th Congressional District</strong>, which is home to over 750,000 people across Alameda County, and includes Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont, and San Leandro.</p>

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<p><strong>“I’ve spent my life fighting for folks without a voice.</strong> I will take the shared stories and experiences of this community to the halls of Congress so I can continue our fight. That’s how we make change. And that's why I'm running for re-election.”</p>

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<p>Our campaign has connected with thousands of residents across the district and built a coalition of over 150 organizations, both locally and nationwide. With over three decades of on-the-ground advocacy, we have the experience and the coalition to fight and win real change.</p>

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<p><strong>We were impressed by Simon’s pragmatic approach to such divisive issues as crime and homelessness.</strong> In addition to pushing for <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="" href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/bart-police-salary-trains-18161630.php">significant raises for BART police officers</a>, she supported an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="" href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Need-help-on-BART-Team-of-ambassadors-15045489.php">alternative BART ambassador program</a>. And she wants to leverage federal funding to turn empty government buildings, such as Oakland’s old county jail, into emergency shelters for homeless people.&nbsp;</p>

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<h4>SF Chronicle Endorsement: The obvious choice to replace Barbara Lee in Congress is also the best one</h4>

<p><a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/endorsement-lateefah-simon-congress-california-19582873.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE HERE</a></p>

<h4>WATCH: Rep. Lateefah Simon speaks at “No Kings” protest in Oakland</h4>

<p><em>Congresswoman Barbara Lee: “It’s my honor to pass the baton to Lateefah”</em></p><p><strong>OAKLAND, CA - </strong>Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) endorsed Lateefah Simon’s campaign for Congress, throwing her support behind Simon to succeed her in California's 12th Congressional District. Congresswoman Lee’s U.S. Senate campaign will also be opening a joint campaign headquarters with Simon’s congressional campaign in downtown Oakland.&nbsp;</p><p>“The Twelfth Congressional District has long been a progressive, multiracial, enlightened beacon for California and the country — we lead with an example of a progressive, people-centered approach to challenges and show what democracy is truly about,” said <strong>Congresswoman Barbara Lee. </strong>&nbsp;“Our district’s strength is a distinct reminder of the late, great warrior for peace and justice Ron Dellums, my predecessor, and who I consider to be the father of coalition politics. After his 27 years of service, he passed the baton to me — and now, I am excited and proud to endorse Lateefah Simon, my former student and true fighter for peace and justice, to run this next lap of the race.”&nbsp;<br></p><p>“Lateefah is from the community, and for the community,” continued <strong>Congresswoman Lee</strong>. “From her teenage years working to support young women and trans youth, to fighting to make public transit more affordable and accessible, she is a fierce advocate and proven leader. It’s my honor to pass the blue baton to Lateefah, who I trust to stand up for the values of the 12th District, and continue building the broad coalition working together for a better world.”</p><p>Lee was first elected to this Congressional seat in a special election in 1998 and has represented the East Bay in Congress for 25 years. Congresswoman Lee is the highest-ranking Black woman appointed to House Leadership, and has served as co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Prior to serving in Congress, Lee was elected to the California State Assembly in 1990, and served three terms before being elected to the California State Senate in 1996. Lateefah Simon and Congresswoman Lee first met when Simon was a student of Congresswoman Lee’s at&nbsp; Mills College. Congresswoman Lee has been a mentor to Simon and inspired her to pursue a career in public service. Congresswoman Lee is now running for United States Senate.&nbsp;</p><p>“Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s legacy and decades of service to the people of our district are incomparable,” said <strong>Lateefah</strong> <strong>Simon</strong>. “For the last 25 years, she has been a voice for moral clarity in Congress and she has boldly represented the progressive values of this district. It is not hyperbole to say Congresswoman Lee is one of the most respected legislators of our time and someone who broke ceilings and blazed trails for Black women in politics. I am deeply humbled and honored to have earned her endorsement in this race.”</p><p>Simon has also earned endorsements from the California Democratic Party, Governor Gavin Newsom, Reproductive Justice for All, SEIU, and over 60+ organizations, elected officials, and labor unions. Her campaign will be opening a campaign HQ in downtown Oakland jointly with Lee’s Senate campaign.</p><p>Simon currently serves as a member of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors where, under her leadership,&nbsp; BART has doubled the number of officers and safety staff systemwide and decreased BART police 9-1-1 call response time to just over 4 minutes — one of the fastest response times of any law enforcement agency in the Bay Area. She is also currently the President of MeadowFund. Previously Simon served as the president of the Akonadi Foundation, where she worked to support youth of color in the Oakland, California area. Simon first began her career in advocacy at age 16 with the Young Women’s Freedom Center.</p><p>At 26, Simon became the youngest woman ever to receive a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. Vice President Kamala Harris, then serving as San Francisco’s district attorney, chose Simon to lead the creation of Back on Track, a program designed to lower recidivism rates among youth who had interacted with the criminal justice system and reduce crime. Simon was born legally blind and was inspired to run for the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors of 2016 in order to improve public transportation in northern California. She holds a bachelor's degree in public policy from Mills College and a Master of Public Administration from the University of San Francisco.<br></p><p>California’s 12th Congressional District is home to over 750,000 people across Alameda County, and includes Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont, and San Leandro.</p>

<p><strong>Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) endorsed Lateefah Simon’s campaign for Congress</strong>, throwing her support behind Simon to succeed her in California's 12th Congressional District. Congresswoman Lee’s U.S. Senate campaign will also be opening a joint campaign headquarters with Simon’s congressional campaign in downtown Oakland.</p>

<h4>Congresswoman Barbara Lee Endorses Lateefah Simon to Succeed her in California’s 12th Congressional </h4>

<p><strong>Lateefah Simon is the first non-incumbent candidate to be endorsed by EMILYs List for the 2024 cycle. &nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>OAKLAND, CA - </strong>Today EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, endorsed Lateefah Simon for election to California’s 12th Congressional District. Lateefah Simon is the first non-incumbent candidate to be endorsed by EMILYs List for the 2024 cycle.&nbsp; <strong>EMILYs List President Laphonza Butler</strong> released the following statement:</p><p>“Lateefah Simon has spent her life and career fighting for underrepresented Americans to have a voice in government and society, and we know she is committed to continuing to do so as representative for California’s 12th Congressional District. Whether as organizer, an activist, or a community leader, Simon has been a champion for civil rights and for the women, families, and youth of California. EMILYs List is proud to endorse this pro-choice champion for election, and we have full confidence in her ability to stand up to extremism and work to protect our democracy in Washington.”</p><p>Lateefah Simon is a civil rights advocate, veteran organizer, and nonprofit professional who currently serves as a member of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors and the president of MeadowFund. Previously Simon served as the president of the racial justice organization the Akonadi Foundation, where she worked to support youth of color in the Oakland, California area. Simon first began her career in advocacy at age 16 with the Young Women’s Freedom Center.&nbsp;</p><p>By age 26, she became the youngest woman ever to receive a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. Vice President Kamala Harris, then serving as San Francisco’s district attorney, chose Simon to lead the creation of Back on Track, a program designed to reduce recidivism rates among youth who had interacted with the criminal justice system. Simon was born legally blind and was inspired to run for the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors of 2016 in order to improve public transportation in northern California. She holds a bachelor's degree in public policy from Mills College and a Master of Public Administration from the University of San Francisco.</p><p>EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, works to elect Democratic pro-choice women up and down the ballot and across the country with a goal of fighting for our rights and our communities. Our work is centered around a fundamental vision: Run. Win. Change the World. EMILYs List has raised $850 million in service to that vision and has helped Democratic women win competitive elections by recruiting and training candidates, supporting and helping build strong campaigns, researching the issues that impact women and families, running one of the largest independent expenditure operations for Democrats, and turning out women voters to the polls. Since our founding in 1985, we have helped elect the country’s first woman as vice president, 175 women to the House, 26 to the Senate, 20 governors, and over 1,500 women to state and local office. More than 40% of the candidates EMILYs List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color. Visit <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.emilyslist.org"><u>www.emilyslist.org</u></a> for more information.</p><p>Future updates about Lateefah’s campaign will be available at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://LateefahSimon.com"><u>LateefahSimon.com</u></a>.&nbsp;</p><p>California’s 12th Congressional District is home to over 750,000 people across Alameda County, and includes Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont, and San Leandro.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Today EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, endorsed Lateefah Simon for election to California’s 12th Congressional District. <strong>Lateefah Simon is the first non-incumbent candidate to be endorsed by EMILYs List for the 2024 cycle.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<h4>EMILYs List Endorses Lateefah Simon for Election to California’s 12th Congressional District</h4>

<p>Lateefah Simon, a&nbsp;BART board director, police reform advocate and former recipient of a MacArthur Foundation genius grant, is the first major candidate to launch a campaign to replace Rep. Barbara Lee as the East Bay’s representative in the House&nbsp;on Tuesday — <strong>and she is clearing the field of potential rivals.</strong></p>

<h4>BART Director, Criminal Justice Reformer Lateefah Simon Launches Campaign for East Bay House Seat</h4>

<p>Throughout her career, Lateefah has been a fierce advocate for women's reproductive freedom, fighting to ensure that all women have the right to make decisions about their own bodies. If elected to Congress, she will fight like hell alongside Democrats to win back a woman’s right to choose. Lateefah knows this battle is not just about healthcare—it’s about dignity, equality, and justice. She will be relentless in pushing back against every effort to strip away these rights and will fight tirelessly to guarantee that every woman, no matter where she lives or how much she makes, has access to safe and legal abortion.</p>

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<h2>Reproductive Freedom</h2>

<p><strong>Of the candidates running, Lateefah Simon is the most qualified.</strong> A strong ally to the LGBTQ community, Simon, currently a director on the BART board, has experience with government agencies such as the transit service, as well as with nonprofits like the Young Women's Freedom Center, which she stated she grew into one of the country's leading juvenile justice reentry youth-run organizations that serves gender nonbinary and trans young people.</p>

<h4>Bay Area Reporter Editorial: Simon, Low for Congress</h4>

<p>Lateefah is committed to advancing the rights of people with disabilities, including those with chronic illnesses, physical disabilities, and intellectual differences. If elected, she will be one of the few disabled voices in Congress; she will fight for full ADA compliance across all public spaces, ensuring accessibility is a right, not an option.<br></p><p>Her platform puts disabled individuals at the center, advocating for stronger enforcement of disability rights, expanded resources, and the removal of barriers to self-determination. Lateefah envisions a future where disabled people can live with dignity, independence, and equal opportunities to shape their own lives.<br></p><p>Her goal is clear: to ensure that disabled people have the access, opportunity, and self-determination to live prosperous and dignified lives.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Disability Rights</h2>

<p>Access to affordable, high-quality healthcare is a fundamental human right. Lateefah will fight to expand and protect healthcare coverage, advocating for a public option and ultimately working towards an affordable single-payer health system. Building on Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s staunch support for the Affordable Care Act, Lateefah will work to lower prescription drug prices by expanding Medicare drug price negotiation to cover all drugs, close the Medicaid coverage gap, expand Medicare to include dental, vision and hearing, and lower the Medicare eligibility age.<br></p><p>Lateefah will also work to address health crises by investing in maternal and infant mortality, particularly in communities of color, and mental health and substance use treatment and prevention, particularly for the opioid epidemic. Lateefah will fight to codify every American’s right to reproductive health care to protect abortion, contraception, and IVF access across the United States.<strong><br></strong></p>

<h2>Healthcare for All</h2>

<p>Only one of the candidates is mounting a substantial campaign. BART Director Lateefah Simon has dwarfed all the others with the depth of her support. <strong>We endorse her — not because the seat is essentially hers to lose, although it is, but because she is the best candidate.</strong></p>

<h4>East Bay Times Editorial: Elect Lateefah Simon for Barbara Lee’s East Bay congressional seat</h4>

<p><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/lateefah-simon-barbara-lee-congress-rcna142347" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE HERE</a></p>

<p>Rep.&nbsp;Lateefah Simon, D-Oakland, speaks Sunday at Oakland Technical High School during a noncooperation training organized by Bay Resistance. The training presented&nbsp;strategies for resisting President Donald Trump on mass&nbsp;deportations and a possible National Guard deployment in San Francisco and Oakland.&nbsp;</p>

<h4>Bay Area training provides ‘concrete skills’ to defy Trump on deportations, troops</h4>

<p><strong>OAKLAND, CA</strong> - Today Lateefah Simon announced that she raised over $300,000 from over 1,000 individual contributors in the first month of her campaign to represent California’s 12th Congressional District. Lateefah’s early fundraising haul is notable because Black women running for congressional office historically raise significantly less money in Democratic primaries than candidates of other demographics, with Black women congressional candidates raising an <strong><a target="_blank" href="https://www.opensecrets.org/news/reports/2020-gender-race">average of $309,665</a></strong> in <em>total</em> for their primary campaigns in 2020.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“I’m running this race to win,” <strong>Lateefah Simon</strong> said. “I’m putting in the work to earn my spot in Congress, and that’s the same commitment and drive I’ll bring to my service in Washington. We’re just getting started, and each day I intend to show up, fight hard, and ensure I’m on the right side of history.”&nbsp;</p>
<p>Lateefah does not accept corporate PAC money and is running a people-powered grassroots campaign. In addition to her strong early fundraising numbers, Lateefah also earned endorsements from <strong><a target="_blank" href="https://www.lateefahsimon.com/news?id=656cc122-e96e-4fbc-9811-f7ab463f658c">over 40 elected leaders</a></strong> since launching her campaign on February 28th.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Lateefah Simon is a 25-year veteran organizer and nationally recognized civil rights and social justice leader. She currently serves on the BART Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees for the California State University. <strong><a target="_blank" href="https://www.lateefahsimon.com/about">Read Lateefah’s full bio here.</a></strong>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Future updates about Lateefah’s campaign will be available at <strong><a target="_blank" href="https://www.lateefahsimon.com/">LateefahSimon.com</a></strong>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>California’s 12th Congressional District is home to over 750,000 people across Alameda County, and includes Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont, and San Leandro.&nbsp;</p>


<p>Today Lateefah Simon announced that she <strong>raised over $300,000 from over 1,000 individual contributors</strong> in the first month of her campaign to represent California’s 12th Congressional District.</p>

<h4>Lateefah Simon Raises over $300,000 in First Month of Congressional Campaign</h4>

<p><strong>BART Board Director Lateefah Simon joins KQED's Political Breakdown</strong> to discuss growing up in San Francisco, her early work with Kamala Harris, facing threats in office and her run for Congress.</p>

<h4>Lateefah Simon on Her Work with Kamala Harris and Run for Congress</h4>

<p><strong>OAKLAND, CA&nbsp;-&nbsp;</strong>Today,<strong>&nbsp;California Governor Gavin Newsom</strong>&nbsp;endorsed Lateefah Simon for election to California’s 12th Congressional District. He released the following statement:</p><p></p><p>“Lateefah is a visionary. But more than a visionary, she is a proven leader who effects the kind of change that makes her vision a reality” said&nbsp;<strong>Governor Newsom</strong>. “From working closely with Lateefah and watching her deliver real, progressive change in her community, I have come to understand her as a true force of nature. She is a dedicated and honorable public servant, a devoted community woman, and a role model to many. Her voice is unwavering in the face of adversity, and I know that she will continue to use that voice on behalf of the people of California’s 12th Congressional District.”</p><p><br></p><p>“I have had the privilege of working closely with the Governor to advance justice on behalf of the people of California,” said Lateefah Simon. “The Governor is a leader, through and through and I am proud to have earned his support as I fight to bring the voices of California’s 12th Congressional District to Washington. There is no one who better understands the urgency of this moment for our state – and thus the imperative of sending a powerful delegation of progressive Californians to Congress. I’ll be proud to continue our partnership when elected.”&nbsp;</p><p></p><p>The Governor joins an ever-growing list of statewide, federal, and local elected officials supporting Simon’s campaign to serve California’s 12th Congressional District in Congress.</p><p></p><p>Lateefah Simon has been Governor Newsom’s senior advisor on police reform since 2020 and is lauded as a civil rights advocate, veteran organizer, and nonprofit professional.&nbsp;</p><p></p><p>Simon currently serves as a member of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors and the president of MeadowFund. Previously Simon served as the president of the racial justice organization the Akonadi Foundation, where she worked to support youth of color in the Oakland, California area. Simon first began her career in advocacy at age 16 with the Young Women’s Freedom Center.</p><p></p><p>By age 26, she became the youngest woman ever to receive a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. Vice President Kamala Harris, then serving as San Francisco’s district attorney, chose Simon to lead the creation of Back on Track, a program designed to reduce recidivism rates among youth who had interacted with the criminal justice system. Simon was born legally blind and was inspired to run for the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors of 2016 in order to improve public transportation in northern California. She holds a bachelor's degree in public policy from Mills College and a Master of Public Administration from the University of San Francisco.</p><p></p><p>California’s 12th Congressional District is home to over 750,000 people across Alameda County, and includes Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont, and San Leandro.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>###</strong></p>

<p>“Lateefah is a visionary. But more than a visionary, she is a proven leader who effects the kind of change that makes her vision a reality” said&nbsp;<strong>Governor Newsom</strong>.</p>

<h4>Governor Gavin Newsom Throws Support Behind Lateefah Simon’s Bid for Congress</h4>

<p>Lateefah has been a lifelong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, fighting for full equality and protection under the law. She will not only support but champion policies that combat discrimination, protect transgender rights, and ensure access to healthcare and social services for LGBTQ+ people. She will support the protection of LGBTQ+ people and people with HIV from discrimination at work, school, and in public spaces and codify the rights of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people, including gender-affirming care and health care, and prohibit conversion therapy. Her advocacy is a testament to her commitment to equality and inclusion for all.<strong><br></strong></p>

<h2>LGBTQ+ Rights</h2>

<p>As the state faces its biggest challenge in homelessness, Lateefah understands that the government must do its part to tackle the moral crisis on our streets. Our unhoused neighbors deserve to receive compassionate care and adequate support to get out of homelessness. As a member of Congress, she will fight to leverage federal funds to transform empty government buildings like the old County Jail in Oakland into dignified emergency shelters for those living on the streets. Lateefah will ensure that the East Bay gets the resources to build more transitional housing units. Lateefah knows mental health is front and center of this issue, and she will continue to fight to strengthen mental health services as she has on the BART Board. Lateefah will champion efforts to get federal aid to increase mental health and social worker staffing and get them the support they need because she recognizes that they are at the frontlines of this crisis.</p>

<h2>Homelessness</h2>

<p><a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/03/05/congress-election-barbara-lee-12th-district-california/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE HERE</a></p>

<p>On the 24th day of the second-longest <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/10/24/g-s1-94806/government-shutdown">federal government shutdown</a>, Rep. Lateefah Simon and seven mayors from her congressional district gathered in Oakland on Friday afternoon to urge Republicans to work with Democrats and restore benefits for the East Bay’s most vulnerable residents.</p>

<h4>East Bay leaders call for federal government shutdown to end</h4>

<p><a href="https://ktla.com/news/politics/inside-california-politics/lateefah-simon-discusses-her-mentor-vp-kamala-harris/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE HERE</a></p>

<p>“I’ll be there in the morning to fight this cruel, ugly, nasty, immoral bill,” Rep. Lateefah Simon, D-Oakland, told KQED while heading to the airport on Tuesday shortly after Senate Republicans passed the bill.</p>

<h4>‘Cruel, Ugly, Nasty, Immoral’: Democrats Slam Mega-Bill Ahead of House Vote</h4>

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<h4>Event title here</h4>

<h4>Bay Area House Democrats claim victory as White House reverses $1.9 billion cut in health funding</h4>

<p>To strengthen our democracy, Lateefah will prioritize protecting and expanding voting rights. She will support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, push for automatic voter registration, and advocate for measures that reduce barriers to voting. Lateefah will support ranked-choice voting and ending partisan gerrymandering. She will aim to reduce money's influence in politics by eliminating secret corporate spending in elections, promoting transparency and accountability in government, and supporting a ban on stock trading and ownership for members of Congress and the Federal Judiciary.<br></p><p>In an age of partisan judiciaries, politicization of judicial interpretation of laws, and a Supreme Court that has exposed itself to be vulnerable to external lobbying and gift-giving, Lateefah will work to provide sorely needed reform to the Supreme Court and the lower courts. She will support expanding the number of justices on the bench, implementing term limits, and creating new judgeships across the federal system. Lateefah will also support and help impose an enforceable code of conduct on the Supreme Court, including instituting accountability measures and restrictions on gifts and requiring judicial disclosures and recusal.</p>

<h2>Voting Rights and Democracy Reform</h2>

<p><strong>OAKLAND, CA - </strong>Today<strong> </strong>Lateefah Simon announced she has earned the endorsement of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County, a coalition of 27 affiliated unions representing East Bay workers in a variety of construction trades.&nbsp;</p><p>"Lateefah Simon has demonstrated her commitment to working families time and again, especially when she fought to protect union jobs while serving on the BART Board,” said <strong>Andreas Culver, Secretary-Treasurer of the Building &amp; Construction Trades Council of Alameda County</strong>. “She understands the importance of promoting apprenticeships and career training programs that provide pathways to success for young people, women, and people of color. We know Lateefah will be an effective advocate in Washington to secure federal dollars to support projects in the East Bay, creating good-paying jobs that form the backbone of our community. On behalf of the 27 affiliated unions of the Building &amp; Construction Trades Council of Alameda County, we wholeheartedly endorse Lateefah Simon for Congress.”</p><p>“I’m honored to have the Building Trades’ support in this race,” said <strong>Lateefah Simon</strong>. “There is no community without the builders who, literally, create the spaces and places in which we gather. We owe it to working families to ensure our development projects employ skilled union labor, that the highest standards of safety are upheld, and that our laborers have a voice in Washington who will advocate for their right to a fair wage and ensure all workers can retire with dignity. I’m proud to stand with labor always, and I’ll take that commitment to Congress.”&nbsp;<br></p><p>The affiliated unions of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County include:</p><ul><li><p>AUTO &amp; MARINE PAINTERS, LOCAL 1176</p></li><li><p>BOILERMAKERS, LOCAL 549</p></li><li><p>BRICKLAYERS, TILESETTERS &amp; ALLIED CRAFTWORKERS, LOCAL 3</p></li><li><p>CARPENTERS, LOCAL 2236</p></li><li><p>CARPENTERS, LOCAL 713</p></li><li><p>CARPET &amp; LINO LAYERS, LOCAL 12</p></li><li><p>CEMENT MASONS, LOCAL 300</p></li><li><p>ELECTRICAL WORKERS, LOCAL 595</p></li><li><p>ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS, LOCAL 8</p></li><li><p>GLAZIERS &amp; GLASS WORKERS, LOCAL 169</p></li><li><p>HEAT &amp; FROST INSULATORS, LOCAL 16</p></li><li><p>IRON WORKERS, LOCAL 378</p></li><li><p>LABORERS, LOCAL 67</p></li><li><p>LABORERS, LOCAL 304</p></li><li><p>LATHERS, LOCAL 68L</p></li><li><p>MILLWRIGHTS, LOCAL 102</p></li><li><p>OPERATING ENGINEERS, LOCAL 3</p></li><li><p>PAINTERS, LOCAL 3</p></li><li><p>PILE DRIVERS, LOCAL 34 55</p></li><li><p>PLASTERERS, LOCAL 66</p></li><li><p>PLUMBERS &amp; STEAMFITTERS, LOCAL 342</p></li><li><p>ROOFERS, LOCAL 81</p></li><li><p>SHEET METAL WORKERS, LOCAL</p></li><li><p>SIGN DISPLAY, LOCAL 510</p></li><li><p>SPRINKLER FITTERS, LOCAL 483</p></li><li><p>TEAMSTERS, LOCAL 853</p></li><li><p>U.A. Utility/Landscape, Local 355</p></li></ul><h2>Lateefah Simon is a 25-year veteran organizer and nationally recognized civil rights and social justice leader. She currently serves on the BART Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees for the California State University. Read Lateefah’s full bio here.&nbsp;</h2><p>Future updates about Lateefah’s campaign will be available at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://LateefahSimon.com"><u>LateefahSimon.com</u></a>.&nbsp;</p><p>California’s 12th Congressional District is home to over 750,000 people across Alameda County, and includes Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont, and San Leandro.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Today<strong> </strong>Lateefah Simon announced <strong>she has earned the endorsement of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County</strong>, a coalition of 27 affiliated unions representing East Bay workers in a variety of construction trades.</p>

<h4>Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County Endorses Lateefah Simon for Congress</h4>

<p><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></p><p><strong>March 16, 2023</strong></p><p>Press Contact:<br>Elizabeth Power<br>(650) 465-1724</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:Press@LateefahSimon.com"><strong>Press@LateefahSimon.com</strong></a></p><p>Lateefah Simon Announces First Major Labor Endorsement: National Union of Healthcare Workers</p><p>OAKLAND, CA - Today Lateefah Simon announced she has earned the endorsement of the National Union of Healthcare Workers — her first major labor endorsement in the race for California’s 12th Congressional District.</p><p>“Lateefah Simon has the experience and tenacity to carry on the work of Barbara Lee and Ron Dellums as a force for justice in Congress,” <strong>NUHW President Sal Rosselli</strong> said. “Healthcare workers understand that we can’t build an equitable healthcare system without also addressing racial injustice, environmental injustice and economic injustice. Lateefah Simon is a civil rights leader who has dedicated her life to improving the lives of working people in the Bay Area, and NUHW members are excited to help further her work in Congress, while continuing our struggle to make access to health care, including mental healthcare, a guaranteed right for everyone in our country.”</p><p>NUHW’s membership reflects California's diverse population and healthcare workforce. NUHW is headquartered in the 12th Congressional District and its members include more than 1,200 workers at Children’s Hospital Oakland, including housekeepers, clerical workers, psychologists, respiratory therapists, nursing assistants and occupational therapists. NUHW-represented mental health therapists at Kaiser Permanente have held multiple marches through Oakland during recent strikes to demand parity for mental health care.</p><p>“I’m honored to receive NUHW’s endorsement.” <strong>Lateefah Simon</strong> said. “The commitment that NUHW members have shown to improve access to care and achieve parity for mental health care has been nothing short of inspiring, and with NUHW’s support we’ll take the fight for healthcare justice to Capitol Hill.”** \n **</p><p>Lateefah Simon is a 25-year veteran organizer and nationally recognized civil rights and social justice leader. She currently serves on the BART Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees for the California State University. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.lateefahsimon.com/about"><strong>Read Lateefah’s full bio here.</strong></a></p><p>Future updates about Lateefah’s campaign will be available at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.lateefahsimon.com/"><strong>LateefahSimon.com</strong></a>.</p><p>California’s 12th Congressional District is home to over 750,000 people across Alameda County, and includes Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont, and San Leandro.</p>

<p>Today Lateefah Simon announced she has earned the endorsement of the National Union of Healthcare Workers <strong>— her first major labor endorsement in the race for California’s 12th Congressional District.</strong></p>

<h4>Lateefah Simon Announces First Major Labor Endorsement: National Union of Healthcare Workers</h4>

<p>Through her experience on the BART Board of Directors and her daily commutes on public transportation, Lateefah knows how transportation touches every person’s life. In CA-12, many residents use a bike or walk to get around, and the safety of our streets must reflect that. As Congresswoman, she will push for federal transit grants to shrink driving lanes, lower curb radiuses, and protect bike lanes. She will work to end the 80-20 split that allocates 80% of funding to highways and only 20% to transit. To reduce our reliance on cars, Lateefah will increase funding levels for transit infrastructure and create incentives to reduce parking minimums in high transit areas. Her office will ensure that public transportation will continue to become more equitable, accessible, and safe for all community members.</p>

<h2>Transportation and Infrastructure</h2>

<p><a href="https://imprintnews.org/top-stories/congressional-candidate-wants-to-create-a-place-for-young-women-to-dream-to-fight-and-to-just-be/248299" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE HERE</a></p>

<p>On Saturday afternoon, East Bay Congresswoman Lateefah Simon held a roundtable discussion with federal and county employees, along with local union representatives, to discuss how the shutdown is impacting working families on the ground.</p>

<h4>East Bay Rep. Lateefah Simon meets with Bay Area workers impacted by government shutdown</h4>

<p>The climate emergency is the biggest existential threat to our globe. In CA-12, we are experiencing the harrowing impacts of extreme weather patterns, deadly heat waves, and rising sea levels on our coastal cities, inland communities, and hillside residents. Communities of color, people living in low-income zip codes, and fenceline communities have been hit hardest by the impacts of climate change. Folks who were redlined into neighborhoods with high biohazards, communities dealing with fires at refineries, and people living in housing ill-equipped to deal with unhealthy air quality during wildfire season are still impacted and can’t catch up. As a mother of two, Lateefah fears what her daughters and their kids will face if we don’t act with strong, bold solutions.&nbsp;<br></p><p>That is why, once elected to Congress, Lateefah will stand up to the fossil fuel industry and work with colleagues to build on the progress made in the Inflation Reduction Act and pass the Green New Deal. Critical to this work is the transition to net-zero emissions and our continued investment into clean energy alternatives. Lateefah will work to streamline the energy transmission permitting process, which is critical to facilitating the development of clean energy infrastructure and reducing bureaucratic barriers, while also investing in clean energy research, development, and manufacturing to expand climate technology and bring more clean energy jobs and critical funding to Alameda County. She will advocate for energy-efficient mass transit systems and support safe pedestrian and bike infrastructure and other non-polluting mobility options for our communities.&nbsp;<br></p><p>Lateefah understands that our fight for climate justice has left the most at-risk communities behind in its wake. That is why she will work to guarantee new requirements for how Superfund sites are cleaned to ensure that climate change and impacts on vulnerable communities are considered, expand clean energy transition initiatives, and provide additional tax incentives for families to bring energy-efficient appliances into low and middle-income homes. She will ensure that federal agencies work with state and local governments to implement climate change policies that protect and fund California’s natural resources and public lands, secure access to clean water, and make clean, affordable power available for all Californians.</p>

<h2>Climate and Environmental Justice</h2>

<p>"...Simon is defying expectations in her first few weeks in Congress, including some of her own. She has had to adjust on the fly to a Washington consumed with disaster relief politics, rapid-fire executive orders, the unchecked power of the Muskocracy, a Republican trifecta of government control and the daily lurch of chaos."</p>

<h4>Oakland’s new representative in Congress is adjusting to a new normal: Absolute chaos</h4>

<p><a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/09/13/endorsements-november-5-2024-election-ballot/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE HERE</a></p>

<p>Oakland’s Lateefah Simon, following in Barbara Lee’s footsteps, “prebutted” Trump’s creepy Tuesday address.</p>

<h4>The Democratic Leader You Did Not Know We Had</h4>

<p><strong>BART Director Lateefah Simon rallied supporters today to officially launch her run for Congress in downtown Oakland.</strong> KCBS Radio's Mike DeWald reports, Simon is hoping to replace longtime East Bay Representative Barbara Lee.</p>

<h4>KCBS: BART Director Lateefah Simon just launched her campaign for Congress</h4>

<p>For nearly 30 years, Lateefah has been a steadfast advocate for economic justice by building and running organizations and initiatives focused on providing opportunities for working-class and middle-class communities to prosper. As someone who has helped create hundreds of jobs and is supported by labor unions across the district, Lateefah understands job creation's social and economic impact as a key to creating safer communities. She is committed to building an economy that works for everyone by cutting costs and protecting consumers, including supporting Vice President Kamala Harris’ pledge to tackle food inflation and lower grocery prices by banning corporate price-gouging. Her unwavering commitment will continue in Congress, ensuring every American can access good-paying jobs. She supports a living wage, aid to small businesses, and investment in infrastructure projects that create jobs and stimulate local economies. Lateefah will push for economic policies that ensure the wealthiest Americans and corporations pay their fair share to reduce income inequality so families have an opportunity no matter their neighborhood.<br></p><p>As a nationally recognized community organizer, Lateefah has lived a life on the front lines and understands the power of collective action, bargaining, and protecting the right of workers to unionize. That is why, once in Congress, Lateefah will continue to fight for the rights of workers by enacting comprehensive labor law reforms to ensure collective bargaining and workplace democracy for all workers, establish a 12-week paid federal Family and Medical Leave program, and strengthen laws to prevent big corporations from engaging in wage theft, misconduct, illegal employment of children, workplace violations, and retaliation based on workers’ immigration status.</p>

<h2>Affordability and Job Creation</h2>

<p><strong>OAKLAND, CA</strong> - Today Lateefah Simon, BART Board District 7 Director and a nationally recognized social justice leader, announced her campaign to represent California’s 12th Congressional district. Lateefah has dedicated her 25-year career to fighting for marginalized communities in the Bay Area, and is running to continue Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s legacy of bold, progressive leadership in the House of Representatives.</p>
<p>“As a young mom, as a youth organizer working with young women who were being trafficked in the underground street economy, as someone who myself had been in the juvenile justice system, I decided very early on that government wasn’t working for folks with no voice,” said <strong>Lateefah Simon</strong>. “I’ve spent my life fighting for those folks, and I will work to take our shared stories and experiences to the halls of Congress so I can continue our fight. That’s how we make change on a national level. And that’s why I’m running for this seat.”</p>
<p>“There are few people in this country more qualified to lead on racial justice, women’s issues, and criminal justice reform than Lateefah Simon,” said <strong>State Senator Nancy Skinner</strong>. “Her extraordinary career speaks for itself, but more importantly, Lateefah is a true public servant. Lifting up others, specially those who are marginalized, is always at the root of her work. I cannot wait to see what she accomplishes for this community, and for all Americans, once she’s in Congress.”</p>
<p>“This district has a history of iconic progressive leadership, and I cannot think of a better person than Lateefah Simon to continue the legacy of Ron Dellums and Barbara Lee,” said <strong>Assemblymember Mia Bonta</strong>. “This is a community of activists, organizers, and changemakers—many of whom are black and brown. They deserve a fighter in Congress, and I know Lateefah will be that fighter and more.”</p>
<p>Lateefah Simon is a 25-year veteran organizer and nationally recognized advocate for civil rights and social justice.</p>
<p>Lateefah began her career of advocacy at age 16 as an outreach coordinator for the Young Women’s Freedom Center. At age 18, she gave birth to her eldest daughter, Aminah, and quickly learned as a young single mother that government wasn’t working for people like her. A year later, she became Executive Director of YWFC and spent the next decade earning national acclaim for her advocacy on behalf of marginalized young women. In 2003, at age 26, Lateefah became the youngest woman to receive a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship.</p>
<p>Lateefah was later chosen by then-San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris to lead the creation of&nbsp; Back on Track, a highly effective, first-of-its-kind anti-recidivism initiative for young adults charged with low-level offenses. Lateefah also served as Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, where she launched successful community-based initiatives such as the Second Chance Legal Services Clinic. She would go on to become Program Director of the Rosenberg Foundation, where she launched a fund to incubate and accelerate bold ideas from the next generation of progressive leaders in California.</p>
<p>On Father’s Day in 2014, Lateefah lost her husband and love of her life, journalist Kevin Weston, to cancer. Even with insurance, Kevin’s hospital bills left Lateefah almost a million dollars in debt. Her East Bay community rallied around her family, helping with rent and groceries, lifting her up and pushing her forward even in the darkest of times.</p>
<p>In 2016, galvanized by the death of Oscar Grant, Lateefah ran and was elected to the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors. Born legally blind, Lateefah relies solely on public transportation to go about her day and sought to make BART more affordable for working families and transit-dependent people like herself. Lateefah was also appointed by then-Governor Jerry Brown to serve on the Board of Trustees for the California State University, the nation’s largest public university system, where she offered strategic advice on policy matters related to racial justice in higher education.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Lateefah graduated from Mills College with a B.A. in Public Policy , and was selected as her class commencement speaker. She later earned her MPA from the University of San Francisco. In 2016, Lateefah became president of the Akonadi Foundation, an Oakland-based racial justice organization. In 2020, she was appointed a senior advisor on police reform for California Governor Gavin Newsom. Lateefah also serves on the Advisory Committee for Human Rights Watch U.S, as an Oxfam Ambassador, and the Board of Directors for Rosenberg Foundation and Tipping Point Foundation.</p>
<p>Lateefah has received numerous awards for her work including “Woman of the Year” from the California State Assembly, the Ford Foundation’s “Leadership for a Changing World” award, the Remarkable Woman Award from Lifetime Television, the Levi Strauss Pioneer Activist Fellowship, the New Frontier Award from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Jefferson Award for Extraordinary Public Service, and <em>Inside Philanthropy</em>’s Most Promising New Foundation President. Over the years, she has been named to Oprah Magazine’s first ever “Power List”, the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s 40 Under 40, and the Root 100.</p>
<p>Lateefah currently resides in Emeryville with her youngest daughter, Lelah.</p>
<p><strong>Lateefah will be available for media requests this afternoon from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM.</strong> Please contact Elizabeth Power at (650) 465-1724 or <strong><a target="_blank" href="mailto:Press@LateefahSimon.com">Press@LateefahSimon.com</a></strong>  to schedule.</p>
<p>Future updates about Lateefah’s campaign will be available at LateefahSimon.com.</p>
<p>California’s 12th Congressional District is home to over 750,000 people across Alameda County, and includes Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont, and San Leandro.</p>

<p>IDEA requires that disabled students have access to public education, discourages segregating disabled kids from their peers, and that qualifying students have access to <a href="https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-difference-between-ieps-and-504-plans?utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_source=google-search-grant&amp;utm_campaign=g_en_legal_504_iep_lj&amp;utm_content=fam%20lj%20legal%20iep%20core%20nb&amp;utm_term=individual%20education%20plan_exact%20match&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=11422660996&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADo4Wqejxe4IPZce_5SruW6vq4wNt&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiA0KrJBhCOARIsAGIy9wCagt7U7FpYe8p12XHgufU4cwuhjpV7l-eMI-jaSFxu1wVnVvi_kBoaAt7NEALw_wcB">individualized education plans</a>, more commonly known as IEPs. IDEA does not apply to education in private schools.</p><p>“Before our disabled elders secured our rights under the law, disabled kids were locked out of systems and out of their potential,” Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-Ca.), who is blind, told me in a statement.</p>

<h4>This Disability Education Law Just Turned 50. Disability Advocates Want More.</h4>

<p><a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/08/21/dnc-live-updates-coverage/lateefah-simon-harris-mentee-speaks-to-vps-empathy-as-prosecutor-00175708" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE HERE</a></p>

<p>Oakland Congresswoman Lateefah Simon met with BART officials at Oakland's 19th Street station on Wednesday to see BART stations and other developments for the critical transit agency facing massive deficits and still lingering low ridership.&nbsp;</p>

<h4>Oakland congresswoman is on a mission to save BART, mass transit</h4>

<p><a href="https://www.ebar.com/story.php?ch=News&amp;sc=News&amp;id=335731&amp;title=editorial:_bar_election_endorsements" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE HERE</a></p>

<p>Newly Elected WFP Champion to Respond to Trump and Musk’s Attacks on Working People.</p>

<h4>Rep. Lateefah Simon to Deliver WFP Response to Trump’s Address to Congress</h4>

<span class="image video image-center" data-embed="<iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eft_aVFw3cY?si=N_bwicxOqCPLEByt&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen></iframe>" style="width: 80%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img imageurl="https://run.imgix.net/ec75aa9f-a339-4fe2-814b-294e71ce3ccc/551a1ed0-bf68-4e47-a3d2-f90676dc6eed/551a1ed0-bf68-4e47-a3d2-f90676dc6eed.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1776%2C1070&amp;w=1500" embedcode="<iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eft_aVFw3cY?si=N_bwicxOqCPLEByt&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen></iframe>" align="center" alignwidth="40" src="https://run.imgix.net/ec75aa9f-a339-4fe2-814b-294e71ce3ccc/551a1ed0-bf68-4e47-a3d2-f90676dc6eed/551a1ed0-bf68-4e47-a3d2-f90676dc6eed.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1776%2C1070&amp;w=1500" data-embed="<iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eft_aVFw3cY?si=N_bwicxOqCPLEByt&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen></iframe>"><span class="video-button-placeholder" data-embed="<iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eft_aVFw3cY?si=N_bwicxOqCPLEByt&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen></iframe>"></span></span><span class="caption" style="display: none"></span></span>

<p>About halfway through President Donald Trump’s contentious address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, Lateefah Simon decided she’d heard enough.</p>

<h4>Rep. Lateefah Simon Rebukes Trump in Fiery Speech, Calls for Bold Progressive Action</h4>

<p><strong>OAKLAND, CA - </strong>Today, <strong>U.S. Senator Alex Padilla </strong>and<strong> U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler</strong> jointly announced they are endorsing Lateefah Simon in the CA-12 Congressional race. The two U.S. Senators from California join Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Democratic Party, and dozens of organizations endorsing Lateefah Simon for Congress.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“Lateefah Simon offers a perspective we seldom hear from in Congress,” said <strong>Senator Padilla</strong>. “In an institution that many Americans feel is out of step, we need people like Lateefah Simon. She not only understands the challenges our constituents face, but actually has the vision and experience to deliver solutions on issues like public safety and climate change. I know she will be the type of transformational leader we need in Congress."</p><p>“Those who have had the privilege of seeing Lateefah Simon in action know that with every step she takes she breathes life into her vision for a more just world. Her track record of success – winning victories for women, Black and brown youth, working families, and those most vulnerable in our communities – speaks for itself,” said<strong> Senator Butler</strong>. “Over these last few months, my deep admiration for Lateefah has only grown as I have watched her build a grassroots campaign with the same passion, tenacity, and fearless spirit that have earned her a place as a civil rights and social justice pioneer in California. It is precisely this unyielding strength that will make her an exceptional representative for California's 12th Congressional District and set her apart as a leader in Washington.”</p><p>“Senator Padilla and Senator Butler have served the people of California with distinction over the course of their respective careers. Earning their support means the world to me.” said <strong>Lateefah</strong> <strong>Simon</strong>. “These two great leaders know what it takes to create the progress that our state and our communities deserve. I am deeply humbled by their endorsement of my candidacy, and I am resolute in my commitment to work with our great Senators to transform our shared vision into a tangible reality for the people of California.”</p><p>Simon currently serves as a member of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors and the president of MeadowFund. Previously Simon served as the president of the racial justice organization the Akonadi Foundation, where she worked to support youth of color in the Oakland, California area. Simon first began her career in advocacy at age 16 with the Young Women’s Freedom Center.</p><p>By age 26, she became the youngest woman ever to receive a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. Vice President Kamala Harris, then serving as San Francisco’s district attorney, chose Simon to lead the creation of Back on Track, a program designed to reduce recidivism rates among youth who had interacted with the criminal justice system. Simon was born legally blind and was inspired to run for the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors of 2016 in order to improve public transportation in northern California. She holds a bachelor's degree in public policy from Mills College and a Master of Public Administration from the University of San Francisco.</p><p>California’s 12th Congressional District is home to over 750,000 people across Alameda County, and includes Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont, and San Leandro.</p><p></p>

<p>The measure would allow for transit systems to spend federal crime prevention dollars on outreach workers and reduce the use of police in nonviolent situations.</p>

<h4>Rep. Simon introduces a bill to nationalize BART’s ambassador program</h4>

<p><a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/lateefah-simon-dnc-19715049.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE HERE</a></p>

<p>District 12 Congresswoman Lateefah Simon made a stop in Emeryville last night for her ongoing town hall tour.</p><p>Simon’s district includes all of Emeryville as well as Berkeley, Alameda, Albany, Piedmont, and most of Oakland and San Leandro.</p>

<h4>Congresswoman Lateefah Simon Hosts Fiery Town Hall at Emeryville Senior Center</h4>

<p>Inspired by the legacy of Congressman Ron Dellums and Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Lateefah is committed to challenging the unchecked growth of military spending and refocusing our national priorities. For far too long, billions have been funneled into an overinflated defense budget that fuels the military-industrial complex without making our communities any safer.<br></p><p>As a supporter of the People Over Pentagon movement, Lateefah believes it’s time to reinvest in the people's needs. Instead of wasting billions on outdated weapons and corporate contracts, funds could be used to power homes with renewable energy, hire more teachers, reduce college costs, and ensure our veterans receive the healthcare and dignity they deserve. These investments, not military overspending, strengthen our country.<br></p><p>A strong advocate for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in the Middle East, Lateefah believes proper security comes from diplomacy—not war profiteering and unchecked military budgets. Lateefah will carry Dellums’ and Lee's anti-war values, fighting to cut wasteful defense spending and redirect those resources toward critical areas like healthcare, education, and housing. She will strive to build a world where peace and justice prevail over war and violence.</p>

<h2>Global Security</h2>

<p>Alameda County stands as a beacon of innovation in technology and the knowledge economy, including in the biotech space. These industries offer vast opportunities, generating thousands of jobs, driving significant advancements in healthcare, and bolstering national security. Now more than ever, Alameda County has the potential to foster a thriving economy that benefits all residents by fully embracing the opportunities presented by the knowledge economy.<br></p><p>Lateefah’s office will champion innovative leadership, fostering growth through technology and ensuring our district remains a hub for investment in economic opportunities that create an inclusive economy for our communities. She believes in uplifting aspiring entrepreneurs, generating future jobs, and enhancing economic mobility for all residents. The Bay Area has long been a global leader in technological advancement, and Lateefah is committed to embracing the new landscape of innovation, which includes cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, and blockchain. Lateefah hopes to establish clear regulatory frameworks to create an environment fostering technological progress and consumer protection. This vision includes implementing strong safeguards to secure personal data, promoting equitable access to technology, and expanding affordable internet access to ensure everyone can benefit.<br></p><p>By investing in sustainable practices and supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs, Lateefah aims to cultivate a robust economy that leaves no one behind. She will lead the transformation of Alameda County into a thriving ecosystem where innovation drives prosperity, opportunity, and community empowerment. This vision for innovation is a beacon of hope for a brighter future for all.</p>

<h2>Innovation</h2>

<p><a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/election/article/bay-area-congress-primary-18689423.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE HERE</a></p>

<p>Congresswoman Lateefah Simon gave a fiery speech about Trump and the Republicans who control both houses of Congress: “They smile while children are separated from their homes.”</p>

<h4>Oakland turns out for ‘No Kings’ protest against Trump</h4>

<p><a href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/politics/kamala-harris-ally-lateefah-simon-stands-in-dnc-spotlight/article_d4f04400-6004-11ef-8de7-478736fea781.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE HERE</a></p>

<p>Congresswoman Lateefah Simon recently toured the Port of Oakland and convened a roundtable with labor, small business, and Port of Oakland stakeholders to discuss the impacts of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.</p>

<h4>Congresswoman Simon Visits Port of Oakland, Convenes Roundtable on Tariffs</h4>

<p>With a 30-year commitment to public safety and justice, Lateefah brings unmatched experience and leadership to this race. Starting her career as a senior leader in the San Francisco’s District Attorney’s office, she served as the Chief of Reentry under then-District Attorney Kamala Harris, where she crafted the award-winning Back on Track program, reducing crime and recidivism through education and job training for nonviolent offenders. This model has been widely recognized and replicated as a national success in criminal justice reform.<br></p><p>Before her work in the District Attorney’s office with Kamala Harris, Lateefah led the Young Women’s Freedom Center, a beacon of hope for justice for young women. Through employment and empowerment programs, she helped create pathways out of the criminal justice system, reducing recidivism and changing lives. Her visionary leadership earned her the prestigious MacArthur 'Genius’ Award and she became the youngest woman ever to receive the award.<strong><br></strong></p><p>Lateefah’s public safety experience extends to her leadership on the BART Board of Directors, where she implemented progressive policing policies by launching the Progressive Policing and Community Engagement Bureau (PPCEB). This initiative, the first for a U.S. transit agency, in addition to its sworn officers, deploys non-sworn Transit Ambassadors and Crisis Intervention Specialists to provide welfare checks, handle Code of Conduct violations, and de-escalate situations. The PPCEB’s efforts have freed up sworn officers to respond to emergency calls faster—resulting in one of the region's fastest response times for tier 1 emergency calls, averaging just over 4 minutes.<strong><br></strong></p><p>Lateefah will champion legislation that closes loopholes in federal gun laws, stops the flow of illegal firearms into the community, and provides resources for mental health, addiction treatment, and programs geared towards preventing recidivism. Lateefah will advocate for investment in public safety measures in California’s 12th district, combining her track record of effective leadership with her vision for a safer, more just community.</p>

<h2>Public Safety</h2>

<p>BART director Lateefah Simon announced her bid to fill U.S. Rep. Lee's seat this week. <strong>Simon has been politically active in the Bay Area for two decades and is recognized nationally as a civil rights leader.</strong> She joins us in the studio to discuss the transit agency and her run for Congress.</p>
<p><strong>CLICK TO WATCH</strong></p>

<h4>KQED Newsroom: U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee | Lateefah Simon</h4>

<p><strong>OAKLAND, CA</strong> - Today Lateefah Simon announced she has earned the support of over 40 elected leaders since launching her campaign a month ago. Her early endorsements include Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Attorney General Rob Bonta, ten members of the State Legislature, and over a dozen current and former elected leaders from CA-12. A full list of her endorsements can be found below.</p>
<p>“I’m humbled to have the support of so many respected leaders from this community and throughout California,” <strong>Lateefah Simon</strong> said. “Good governance doesn’t happen from the top down—it takes collaboration at all levels of government. I cannot wait to work with this esteemed group of leaders to show this community what we can accomplish in the months ahead.”</p>
<p>“Lateefah Simon has been a force ever since she began her career serving low income young women 25 years ago,” said <strong>Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis</strong>. “She helped transform how our justice system treats young people, and she has changed thousands of lives through her work. By sending Lateefah to Congress, we’ll be sending one of our very best and I’m thrilled to endorse her campaign.”</p>
<p>"Lateefah is a trailblazing leader who has spent her career advocating for those who have been left behind and overlooked by our justice system,” said <strong>Attorney General Rob Bonta</strong>. “Her dedication to criminal justice reform and public safety is unparalleled, and she has the expertise, passion, and commitment to make a real difference in Congress. As one of her future constituents in CA-12, I’m proud to endorse her candidacy.”</p>
<p>"Lateefah Simon is a true progressive champion,” said <strong>Rep. Robert Garcia</strong> (CA-42). “Her impressive track record of community leadership and advocacy speaks for itself, and her commitment to equity is exactly what we need more of in Washington. I have no doubt that she will be a powerful voice for change in the halls of Congress and I look forward to working together to deliver for the people of California.”</p>
<p>"Lateefah understands what it means to dismantle systemic injustice so we can ensure our young people are better off than past generations, especially our Black and Brown children,” said <strong>Oakland City Councilmember Treva Reid</strong>. “Her work as a community organizer, civil rights champion, and policy leader has had a profound impact on Oakland and already changed countless lives. Lateefah is going to be a star in Congress and I know she’ll work day and night to bring more resources back for our community.”</p>
<p>"Lateefah ran for BART Board to make BART better for working people and people with disabilities, and I can say with confidence that BART is better off because of her leadership,” said <strong>BART Board Director Bevan Dufty</strong>. “Most people don’t know that Lateefah flew to Washington to lobby for critical emergency funding to ensure transit services continued to operate despite the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19. Washington could use another transit and equity champion, and Lateefah was born for this role.”</p>
<p>Endorsements*</p>
<p>Eleni Kounalakis, California Lieutenant Governor</p>
<p>Rob Bonta, California Attorney General</p>
<p>Malia Cohen, California State Controller</p>
<p>Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer</p>
<p>Tony Thurmond, California Superintendent of Instruction</p>
<p>Kevin Mullin, U.S. Representative (CA-15)</p>
<p>Robert Garcia, U.S. Representative&nbsp; (CA-42)</p>
<p>Nancy Skinner, California State Senator (SD-09)</p>
<p>Aisha Wahab, California State Senator (SD-10)</p>
<p>Scott Wiener, California State Senator (SD-11)</p>
<p>Josh Becker, California State Senator (SD-13)</p>
<p>Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, California State Senator (SD-28)</p>
<p>Buffy Wicks, California State Assemblymember (AD-14)</p>
<p>Mia Bonta, California State Assemblymember (AD-18)</p>
<p>Matt Haney, California State Assemblymember (AD-17)</p>
<p>Isaac Bryan, California State Assemblymember (AD-55)</p>
<p>Corey Jackson, California State Assemblymember (AD-60)</p>
<p>London Breed, Mayor of San Francisco</p>
<p>Jesse Arreguin, Mayor of Berkeley</p>
<p>John Bauters, Mayor of Emeryville</p>
<p>Alexander Walker-Griffin, Mayor of Hercules</p>
<p>Lisa Gauthier, Mayor of East Palo Alto</p>
<p>Sasha Renee Perez, Mayor of Alhambra</p>
<p>Libby Schaaf, Former Mayor of Oakland</p>
<p>Elihu Harris, Former Mayor of Oakland</p>
<p>Kevin Jenkins, Oakland City Councilmember</p>
<p>Treva Reid, Oakland City Councilmember</p>
<p>Dan Kalb, Oakland City Councilmember</p>
<p>Courtney Welch, Vice Mayor of Emeryville</p>
<p>Malia Vella, Alameda Councilmember</p>
<p>Rigel Robinson, Berkeley City Councilmember</p>
<p>Terry Taplin, Berkeley City Councilmember</p>
<p>Ben Bartlett, Berkeley City Councilmember</p>
<p>Rashi Kesarwani, Berkeley City Councilmember</p>
<p>Cameron Sasai, Pinole City Councilmember</p>
<p>Judy Appel, Berkeley School Board</p>
<p>Janice Li, President, BART Board</p>
<p>Bevan Dufty, BART Director</p>
<p>Rebecca Salzman, BART Director</p>
<p>Joel Young, Alameda County Transit Board</p>
<p>Larry Reed, Contra Costa County Supervisor</p>
<p>John Burton, Former U.S. Representative (CA-5)</p>
<p>Michael Tubbs, Former Mayor of Stockton</p>
<p>*All titles for identification purposes only</p>
<p>Lateefah Simon is a 25-year veteran organizer and nationally recognized civil rights and social justice leader. She currently serves on the BART Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees for the California State University. <strong><a target="_blank" href="https://www.lateefahsimon.com/about">Read Lateefah’s full bio here.</a></strong></p>
<p>Future updates about Lateefah’s campaign will be available at <strong><a target="_blank" href="https://www.lateefahsimon.com/">LateefahSimon.com</a></strong>.</p>


<p><strong>Today Lateefah Simon announced she has earned the support of over 40 elected leaders since launching her campaign a month ago</strong>. Her early endorsements include Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Attorney General Rob Bonta, ten members of the State Legislature, and over a dozen current and former elected leaders from CA-12.</p>

<h4>Lateefah Simon Announces Over 40 Endorsements from Current and Former Elected Leaders</h4>

<p>Housing is a fundamental right, and real solutions are needed to address the housing crisis in our district. With a focus on urgency and innovation, Lateefah is leading efforts to build affordable housing and transit-oriented development. Her work on the BART Board will add over 1,000 new bedrooms to the district, providing critical relief for working families, seniors, and individuals struggling to find stable, affordable homes.<br></p><p>Lateefah will leverage her strong relationships in the House and Senate to champion resource procurement for Oakland’s housing crisis. Working with elected colleagues in California, she will aggressively pursue the $4.5 billion needed to build and operate permanent supportive housing for all homeless residents in the district.<strong><br></strong></p><p>In Congress, Lateefah will advocate for policies that end landlord discrimination, ensure that federal funds are allocated towards making public housing a positive, community-oriented, and safe space, and increase rental subsidies so that residents can stay in their homes. She will continue to support legislation like SB 567, the Homelessness Prevention Act, to ensure that renters' and tenants' rights are protected and financial burdens on tenants are alleviated, especially those who are already struggling to make ends meet.&nbsp;<strong><br></strong></p><p>Lateefah will uplift bills like the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act as key tools for addressing this issue. The bill expands and strengthens the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, encouraging more investment in the development and maintenance of affordable housing. She also supports the plan announced by Vice President Kamala Harris to build 3 million homes over the next four years, provide assistance for first-time home buyers, and encourage local governments to remove the barriers to construction. For the district, it means more homes for those with the greatest needs and a meaningful response to the housing shortage. Lateefah supports this legislation because it will create more opportunities for families to live close to work, with access to public transportation, and in diverse communities. This district can become a model for equitable, affordable housing solutions with focused effort.</p>

<h2>Affordable Housing</h2>

<p>A lifelong resident of the Bay, Lateefah has dedicated herself to fighting for racial and social justice in Oakland and her community and has no plans to end her fight for equity and equality when she reaches the halls of Congress. As a Black woman and a single mother of two, Lateefah has seen firsthand how the most marginalized and disadvantaged communities, often immigrant communities and communities of color, are the first to have their civil and social rights put on the chopping block by conservative legislators.<br></p><p>In Congress, Lateefah will continue to fight for structural changes to improve the lives of her constituents and people across the United States. She will support legislation to prohibit the use of the death penalty at the federal level and require re-sentencing of those currently on death row. She has decades of experience working to empower and protect survivors of trafficking and violence with the Young Women’s Freedom Center and started the nationally recognized Back-on-Track program in then-DA Harris’ office to prevent recidivism. This background has given her both the motivation and expertise to create and advocate tirelessly for racial justice legislation.</p>

<h2>Racial and Social Justice</h2>

<p>As a teenage mother and single mother of two, Lateefah understood early on that the care economy is not built to work for poor and working-class families or care for children and babies in marginalized communities. Paid family leave, affordable child care, and affordable home health remain out of reach for those who need it most, and families with young children and caretakers with sick relatives are often forced to take on substantial debt to provide the most basic care for their loved ones.&nbsp;<br></p><p>As Congresswoman, Lateefah will fight for a future with affordable, high-quality child care and pre-K, long-term care, and paid leave while supporting care workers and family caregivers. She will work to restore the Child Tax Credit and expand it further to provide up to $6,000 in tax cuts to families with newborn children - a critical relief for young parents who need to buy diapers, clothes, car seats, and more for their children, and an integral investment in our children and families. She will build on the historic investments from the American Rescue Plan to strengthen home care systems by raising pay, improving benefits, and expanding opportunities for caregivers who serve more than 7 million Americans with disabilities and seniors in their homes or communities. Lateefah understands that care is critical and will work day in and day out to ensure everyone has access to the new care economy.</p>

<h2>Building a Care Economy</h2>

<p><a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11996974/lateefah-simon-on-kamala-harris-bay-area-roots" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE HERE</a></p>

<p>A letter led by California Rep. Lateefah Simon demands answers from Trump’s labor secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer.</p>

<h4>House Dems Blast Labor Department for Abandoning Disabled Workers</h4>

<p><strong>Lateefah Simon has been in the business of politics and community organizing for 30 years.</strong>&nbsp;The longtime Bay Area advocate announced a run for Congress earlier this year. Today, she has received a major endorsement from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://emilyslist.org/">EMILYs List</a>—&nbsp;which&nbsp;“is the nation’s largest resource dedicated to electing Democratic pro-choice women to office.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h4>After&nbsp;Decades Uplifting Community Voices, This&nbsp;Bay Area Advocate Wants To Represent Them In Congress</h4>

<p>Lateefah knows the value immigrants bring to our communities and our economy. She will work to create a fair and humane immigration system that would disentangle the criminal system from the immigration system and expand legal pathways to work authorization and citizenship.<br></p><p>That simply recognizes a few basic principles: America has been the world's envy for decades because people have aspired to pursue the American Dream. A fair and humane immigration system only works when there are no backlogs that prolong waiting periods for asylum applicants and employment-based immigration.<strong><br></strong></p><p>Dreamers are Americans; their home is here. We must defend these young people who have so much to offer our country by defending DACA and leading the way in enshrining it in law. Every year, Dreamers contribute millions of dollars in taxes to America’s social safety net programs like Medicare and Social Security. Lateefah believes Dreamers should have a pathway to citizenship and have access to the social safety net that their tax dollars go to.</p>

<h2>Immigration</h2>

<p><strong>OAKLAND, CA -</strong> Today Lateefah Simon, candidate for California’s 12th Congressional district, announced that she raised over $140,000 from individual contributors in the first 24 hours after launching her campaign. Lateefah received contributions from 320 donors. Lateefah does not accept corporate PAC money and is running a people-powered grassroots campaign.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“I’m humbled by the outpouring of love and support I received yesterday,” said <strong>Lateefah Simon</strong>. “I knew from the beginning that it would take a village to run this race, but I never realized how big my village is. This community is special, and I’m committed to making everyone so proud. I look forward to getting out there to earn every vote so I can fight for these folks who are entrusting me with their voice.”&nbsp;** \n **</p>
<p>Lateefah Simon is a 25-year veteran organizer and nationally recognized civil rights and social justice leader. She currently serves on the BART Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees for the California State University. <strong><strong><a target="_blank" href="https://www.lateefahsimon.com/about">Read Lateefah’s full bio here.</a></strong></strong>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Future updates about Lateefah’s campaign will be available at <strong><strong><a target="_blank" href="https://www.lateefahsimon.com/">LateefahSimon.com</a></strong></strong>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>California’s 12th Congressional District is home to over 750,000 people across Alameda County, and includes Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont, and San Leandro.&nbsp;</p>


<p>Today Lateefah Simon, candidate for California’s 12th Congressional district, announced that <strong>she raised over $140,000 from individual contributors in the first 24 hours</strong> after launching her campaign. Lateefah received contributions from 320 donors. Lateefah does not accept corporate PAC money and is running a people-powered grassroots campaign.&nbsp;</p>

<h4>Lateefah Simon Raises over $140,000 in First 24 Hours of Congressional Campaign</h4>

Lateefah Simon is a 25-year veteran organizer and nationally recognized advocate for civil rights and social justice.

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