African American national leaders announce their support of Lee’s history-making campaign

OAKLAND, CA — Today, Congresswoman and U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Lee announced the endorsement of influential Black leaders from around the country. Lee unveiled the support of Congressmembers Jamaal Bowman (NY), Steven Horsford (NV), Bennie Thompson (MI), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ), Lucy McBath (GA), Terri Sewell (AL), Troy Carter (LA), and Gregory Meeks (NY) and Cedric Richmond, former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

“Barbara’s record of progressive accomplishments speaks for itself. She not only talks the talk, but she walks the walk,” said Congressman Steven Horsford of the endorsement. “As a Black woman, she’ll bring a much-needed perspective to the U.S. Senate and I have no doubt she’ll make sure all our voices are heard. She’s the change-maker California, and the country, needs now. I’m proud to endorse her.”

“As my colleague in Congress, I have seen Barbara fight for the issues that matter to Americans firsthand. From working to lift people out of poverty to standing up against gun violence to advocating for our most vulnerable, she has been a champion for justice her entire career,” said Congresswoman Lucy McBath. “I know she’ll bring these progressive values and her tremendous ability to create change to the U.S. Senate. We all deserve to have a seat at the table, and that’s exactly what Barbara will do. I am proud to endorse her.”

“I’m honored to have the support of these influential and important leaders from across the country,” said Lee. “I have worked my entire life to deliver equity and justice for everyone, and I’ve never backed down from what I believe is right – and I’ll keep fighting for these values in the U.S. Senate. I look forward to working with these amazing leaders to deliver the change our country so desperately needs.”

There are currently no Black women serving in the U.S. Senate. In the nearly 240 years since the Senate first met, only two African American women have been in the Senate, serving a total of 10 years.

Lee enters the race for U.S. Senate with a long and growing list of supporters, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, Treasurer Fiona Ma, Controller Malia Cohen, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, Congressman Ro Khanna, State Senators Anna Caballero and Nancy Skinner, Assemblymembers Mia Bonta and Corey Jackson, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran, Redlands Mayor Eddie Tejeda, Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson, former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Palm Desert Mayor Pro Tem Karina Quintanilla, Dolores Huerta, California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Chair Deepa Sharma, California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus Chair Amar Shergill, and California Democratic Party LGBTQ Caucus Co-Chair Tiffany Woods.

Lee also has the backing of the Alameda County Building and Construction Trades Council, California Legislative Black Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, and Feminist Majority PAC.