Rep. Clyburn, one of the most highly respected members of Congress, is the latest influential national leader to endorse Barbara Lee for U.S. Senate

OAKLAND, CA — Today, Congresswoman and U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Lee announced the endorsement of Congressman Jim Clyburn (SC), Assistant Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives.

Clyburn, who is serving for a second time as Assistant Democratic Leader, previously served two terms as Majority Whip where he made history as the first African American to serve multiple terms in the position. Clyburn was recently named as a co-chair for President Joe Biden’s 2024 reelection campaign.

“Barbara Lee is the voice Americans need now in the U.S. Senate,” said Clyburn. “She stands by what she believes in, and she doesn’t back down. In the House, she is an extremely accomplished legislator with a record of delivering historical achievement to end poverty, eradicate HIV and AIDS, and work for global peace and security. In the Senate, she will use all of her experiences to address the challenges that Californians and Americans are dealing with every day, including economic inequality, housing affordability, and the climate crisis.”

“Congressman Clyburn has set an example of integrity, effectiveness, and leadership in the U.S. House, and I’m honored to be endorsed by him,” said Lee. “I am running this campaign to bring my record of accomplishments and effectiveness to the U.S. Senate. Californians deserve a Senator who will hit the ground running on Day One and be their voice.”

Most recently, 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.

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, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, 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.

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.