Lateefah Simon for Congress

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

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<h2>Lateefah Simon is a 25-year veteran organizer and nationally recognized advocate for civil rights and social justice.</h2><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" alt="" title="right-50" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="right" variant="framed">

<h3>Lateefah began her career of advocacy at age 16 as an outreach coordinator for the Young Women’s Freedom Center.</h3>
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.

<h3>Lateefah was later chosen by then-San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris to lead the creation of&nbsp; Back on Track.</h3>
<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" alt="" title="right-50" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="right" variant="framed">Back on Track was 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.

<h3>In 2016, galvanized by the death of Oscar Grant, Lateefah ran and was elected to the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors.</h3>
<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" alt="" title="left-50" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">
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.
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 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.

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Lateefah is running to represent California’s 12th Congressional District, which is home to over 750,000 people across Alameda County, and includes Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont, and San Leandro.

Lateefah currently resides in Emeryville with her youngest daughter, Lelah. 

Dozens of local organizations and leaders are standing together!

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Eleni Kounalakis, California Lt. Governor

Rob Bonta, California Attorney General

Malia Cohen, California State Controller

Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer

Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Instruction

Kevin Mullin, U.S. Representative (CA-15)

Robert Garcia, US Representative (CA-42)

Nancy Skinner, California State Senator (SD-09)

Aisha Wahab, California State Senator (SD-10)

Scott Weiner, California State Senator (SD-11)

Josh Becker, California State Senator (SD-13)

Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, California State Senator (SD-28)

Buffy Wicks, California State Assemblymember (AD-14)

Mia Bonta, California State Assemblymember (AD-18)

Matt Haney, California State Assemblymember (AD-17)

Isaac Bryan, California State Assemblymember (AD-55)

Corey Jackson, California State Assemblymember (AD-60)

Laura Friedman, California State Assemblymember (AD-44)

London Breed, Mayor of San Francisco

Jesse Arreguin, Mayor of Berkeley

John Bauters, Mayor of Emeryville

Alexander Walker-Griffin, Mayor of Hercules

Lisa Gauthier, Mayor of East Palo Alto

Sarah Renee Perez, Mayor of Alhambra

Libby Schaaf, Former Mayor of Oakland

Elihu Harris, Former Mayor of Oakland

Michael Tubbs, Former Mayor of Stockton

Kevin Jenkins, Oakland City Councilmember

Treva Reid, Oakland City Councilmember

Dan Kalb, Oakland City Councilmember

Courtney Welch, Vice Mayor of Emeryville

Malia Vella, City of Alameda Councilmember

Rigel Robinson, Berkeley City Councilmember

Terry Taplin, Berkeley City Councilmember

Ben Bartlett, Berkeley City Councilmember

Rashi Kesarwani, Berkeley City Councilmember

Sophie Hahn, Berkeley City Councilmember

Cameron Sasai, Pinole City Councilmember

Judy Appel, Berkeley Unified School District Board of Education Member

Janice Li, President, BART Board

Bevan Dufty, BART Director

Rebecca Saltzman, BART Director

Joel Young, Alameda County Transit Board

Larry Reed, Contra Costa County Supervisor

John Burton, Former US Representative (CA-05)

Alysse Castro, Alameda County Superintendent of Schools

Elected Officials

Building &amp; Construction Trades Council of Alameda County

California Working Families Party

Collective PAC

Congressional Progressive Caucus

Courage California

Ella Baker Center Action Fund

EMILYs List

Feminist Majority PAC

Giffords PAC

IBEW Local 595

National Union of Healthcare Workers

Service Employees International Union

Sister Warriors Action Fund

Teamsters Joint Council 7

Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) - PAC

City of Alameda Democratic Club

California School Employees Association (CSEA), AFL-CIO

East Bay Young Democrats

Latine Young Democrats of the East Bay

Organizations

Wanda Johnson, Mother of Oscar Grant

Dr. Belinda Arriaga, &nbsp;Founder/Executive director, Ayudando Latinos A Soñar (ALAS) *

Chaney Turner, ADEM Delegate (District 18)

Kelly Welsh, ADEM Delegate (District 11)

Kendra Fox-Davis, Chief Program Officer, Rosenberg Foundation*

Steve Phillips, Bestselling Author

Michele McQueen, Executive Chef, Town Fare

Alicia Garza, Executive Director of Black Futures Lab and Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter LA

Nicole Lee, Urban Peace Movement*

Marlene Sanchez, Executive Director of Ella Baker Center for Human Rights

Jessica Nolan, &nbsp;Executive Director of Young Women's Freedom Center

Daryl Davis

Selena Wilson, East Oakland Youth Development Center

Donald Lacy, Founder of Love Life Foundation

Melina Abdullah, Founder of Black Lives Matter LA

Manny Yekutiel, Owner of Manny's

Ryan Nicole Peters, Musician/Actress/Activist

Jilchristina Vest, Founder, West Oakland Mural Project

Jennifer Johns, Artist

Chris Riggins, Comedian

Goapele, Grammy-nominated artist

Dame Drummer, Musician

Sherry Hirota, Former CEO of Asian Health Services

Austin Tam, Member, Alameda County Democratic Central Committee

* - For Identification Purposes Only

Community Members

“I’ve spent my life fighting for folks without a voice. 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 this seat.”

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Lateefah in the News

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

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KCBS: BART Director Lateefah Simon just launched her campaign for Congress

Lateefah Simon has been in the business of politics and community organizing for 30 years.&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;

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

Lateefah Simon is the first non-incumbent candidate to be endorsed by EMILYs List for the 2024 cycle. &nbsp;OAKLAND, CA - 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; EMILYs List President Laphonza Butler released the following statement:“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.”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;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.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">www.emilyslist.org</a> for more information.Future updates about Lateefah’s campaign will be available at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://LateefahSimon.com">LateefahSimon.com</a>.&nbsp;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;

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;

EMILYs List Endorses Lateefah Simon for Election to California’s 12th Congressional District

OAKLAND, CA - Today 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;"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 Andreas Culver, Secretary-Treasurer of the Building &amp; Construction Trades Council of Alameda County. “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.”“I’m honored to have the Building Trades’ support in this race,” said Lateefah Simon. “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; The affiliated unions of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County include:<ul><li>AUTO &amp; MARINE PAINTERS, LOCAL 1176</li><li>BOILERMAKERS, LOCAL 549</li><li>BRICKLAYERS, TILESETTERS &amp; ALLIED CRAFTWORKERS, LOCAL 3</li><li>CARPENTERS, LOCAL 2236</li><li>CARPENTERS, LOCAL 713</li><li>CARPET &amp; LINO LAYERS, LOCAL 12</li><li>CEMENT MASONS, LOCAL 300</li><li>ELECTRICAL WORKERS, LOCAL 595</li><li>ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS, LOCAL 8</li><li>GLAZIERS &amp; GLASS WORKERS, LOCAL 169</li><li>HEAT &amp; FROST INSULATORS, LOCAL 16</li><li>IRON WORKERS, LOCAL 378</li><li>LABORERS, LOCAL 67</li><li>LABORERS, LOCAL 304</li><li>LATHERS, LOCAL 68L</li><li>MILLWRIGHTS, LOCAL 102</li><li>OPERATING ENGINEERS, LOCAL 3</li><li>PAINTERS, LOCAL 3</li><li>PILE DRIVERS, LOCAL 34 55</li><li>PLASTERERS, LOCAL 66</li><li>PLUMBERS &amp; STEAMFITTERS, LOCAL 342</li><li>ROOFERS, LOCAL 81</li><li>SHEET METAL WORKERS, LOCAL</li><li>SIGN DISPLAY, LOCAL 510</li><li>SPRINKLER FITTERS, LOCAL 483</li><li>TEAMSTERS, LOCAL 853</li><li>U.A. Utility/Landscape, Local 355</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>Future updates about Lateefah’s campaign will be available at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://LateefahSimon.com">LateefahSimon.com</a>.&nbsp;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;

Today 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.

Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County Endorses Lateefah Simon for Congress

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

Lateefah Simon on Her Work with Kamala Harris and Run for Congress

OAKLAND, CA - 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 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.opensecrets.org/news/reports/2020-gender-race">average of $309,665</a> in total for their primary campaigns in 2020.&nbsp;
“I’m running this race to win,” Lateefah Simon 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;
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 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.lateefahsimon.com/news?id=656cc122-e96e-4fbc-9811-f7ab463f658c">over 40 elected leaders</a> since launching her campaign on February 28th.&nbsp;
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" href="https://www.lateefahsimon.com/about">Read Lateefah’s full bio here.</a>&nbsp;
Future updates about Lateefah’s campaign will be available at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.lateefahsimon.com/">LateefahSimon.com</a>.&nbsp;
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;

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 Simon Raises over $300,000 in First Month of Congressional Campaign

OAKLAND, CA - 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.
“I’m humbled to have the support of so many respected leaders from this community and throughout California,” Lateefah Simon 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.”
“Lateefah Simon has been a force ever since she began her career serving low income young women 25 years ago,” said Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis. “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.”
"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 Attorney General Rob Bonta. “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.”
"Lateefah Simon is a true progressive champion,” said Rep. Robert Garcia (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.”
"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 Oakland City Councilmember Treva Reid. “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.”
"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 BART Board Director Bevan Dufty. “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.”
Endorsements*
Eleni Kounalakis, California Lieutenant Governor
Rob Bonta, California Attorney General
Malia Cohen, California State Controller
Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer
Tony Thurmond, California Superintendent of Instruction
Kevin Mullin, U.S. Representative (CA-15)
Robert Garcia, U.S. Representative&nbsp; (CA-42)
Nancy Skinner, California State Senator (SD-09)
Aisha Wahab, California State Senator (SD-10)
Scott Wiener, California State Senator (SD-11)
Josh Becker, California State Senator (SD-13)
Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, California State Senator (SD-28)
Buffy Wicks, California State Assemblymember (AD-14)
Mia Bonta, California State Assemblymember (AD-18)
Matt Haney, California State Assemblymember (AD-17)
Isaac Bryan, California State Assemblymember (AD-55)
Corey Jackson, California State Assemblymember (AD-60)
London Breed, Mayor of San Francisco
Jesse Arreguin, Mayor of Berkeley
John Bauters, Mayor of Emeryville
Alexander Walker-Griffin, Mayor of Hercules
Lisa Gauthier, Mayor of East Palo Alto
Sasha Renee Perez, Mayor of Alhambra
Libby Schaaf, Former Mayor of Oakland
Elihu Harris, Former Mayor of Oakland
Kevin Jenkins, Oakland City Councilmember
Treva Reid, Oakland City Councilmember
Dan Kalb, Oakland City Councilmember
Courtney Welch, Vice Mayor of Emeryville
Malia Vella, Alameda Councilmember
Rigel Robinson, Berkeley City Councilmember
Terry Taplin, Berkeley City Councilmember
Ben Bartlett, Berkeley City Councilmember
Rashi Kesarwani, Berkeley City Councilmember
Cameron Sasai, Pinole City Councilmember
Judy Appel, Berkeley School Board
Janice Li, President, BART Board
Bevan Dufty, BART Director
Rebecca Salzman, BART Director
Joel Young, Alameda County Transit Board
Larry Reed, Contra Costa County Supervisor
John Burton, Former U.S. Representative (CA-5)
Michael Tubbs, Former Mayor of Stockton
*All titles for identification purposes only
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" href="https://www.lateefahsimon.com/about">Read Lateefah’s full bio here.</a>
Future updates about Lateefah’s campaign will be available at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.lateefahsimon.com/">LateefahSimon.com</a>.

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.

Lateefah Simon Announces Over 40 Endorsements from Current and Former Elected Leaders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 16, 2023Press Contact: Elizabeth Power (650) 465-1724<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:Press@LateefahSimon.com">Press@LateefahSimon.com</a>Lateefah Simon Announces First Major Labor Endorsement: National Union of Healthcare WorkersOAKLAND, 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.“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,” NUHW President Sal Rosselli 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.”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.“I’m honored to receive NUHW’s endorsement.” Lateefah Simon 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 **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">Read Lateefah’s full bio here.</a>Future updates about Lateefah’s campaign will be available at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.lateefahsimon.com/">LateefahSimon.com</a>.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.

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.

Lateefah Simon Announces First Major Labor Endorsement: National Union of Healthcare Workers

BART director Lateefah Simon announced her bid to fill U.S. Rep. Lee's seat this week. Simon has been politically active in the Bay Area for two decades and is recognized nationally as a civil rights leader. She joins us in the studio to discuss the transit agency and her run for Congress.
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KQED Newsroom: U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee | Lateefah Simon

OAKLAND, CA - 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;
“I’m humbled by the outpouring of love and support I received yesterday,” said Lateefah Simon. “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 **
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" href="https://www.lateefahsimon.com/about">Read Lateefah’s full bio here.</a>&nbsp;
Future updates about Lateefah’s campaign will be available at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.lateefahsimon.com/">LateefahSimon.com</a>.&nbsp;
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;

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;

Lateefah Simon Raises over $140,000 in First 24 Hours of Congressional Campaign

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 — and she is clearing the field of potential rivals.

BART Director, Criminal Justice Reformer Lateefah Simon Launches Campaign for East Bay House Seat

OAKLAND, CA - 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.
“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 Lateefah Simon. “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.”
“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 State Senator Nancy Skinner. “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.”
“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 Assemblymember Mia Bonta. “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.”
Lateefah Simon is a 25-year veteran organizer and nationally recognized advocate for civil rights and social justice.
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.
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.
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.
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;
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.
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 Inside Philanthropy’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.
Lateefah currently resides in Emeryville with her youngest daughter, Lelah.
Lateefah will be available for media requests this afternoon from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Please contact Elizabeth Power at (650) 465-1724 or <a target="_blank" href="mailto:Press@LateefahSimon.com">Press@LateefahSimon.com</a> to schedule.
Future updates about Lateefah’s campaign will be available at LateefahSimon.com.
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.

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. <a target="_blank" href="">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.</a>

BART Board Director Lateefah Simon Announces Campaign for Barbara Lee’s Congressional Seat

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