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Congresswoman Barbara Lee: “It’s my honor to pass the baton to Lateefah”

OAKLAND, CA - 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. 

“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 Congresswoman Barbara Lee.  “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.” 

“Lateefah is from the community, and for the community,” continued Congresswoman Lee. “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.”

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  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. 

“Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s legacy and decades of service to the people of our district are incomparable,” said Lateefah Simon. “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.”

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.

Simon currently serves as a member of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors where, under her leadership,  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.

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.

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.