Abrams, one of the nation’s most prominent political voices, throws her support behind Lee’s U.S. Senate campaign

OAKLAND, CA — Today, Congresswoman and U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Lee announced the endorsement of former Georgia General Assembly House Minority Leader and Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

Abrams was the first Black woman to earn a major party nomination for governor in the U.S. and is credited with building the grassroots infrastructure that increased voter turnout in key parts of Georgia in recent years, cementing Georgia’s status as a battleground state. Prior to this, Abrams served in the Georgia General Assembly as House Minority Leader, making history as the first woman to lead the party and first African American to lead in the House. A successful small business owner, Abrams is also a four-time New York Times bestselling author. She was recently appointed to serve as the inaugural chair for Race and Black Politics at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

“Barbara Lee is the leader California and the nation need right now in the U.S. Senate,” said Abrams. “California voters, like voters across the country, want more for their families and their lives. Yet, their dreams of progress face the challenges of economic insecurity, affordable housing, the climate crisis, and attacks on voting rights and our democracy. Barbara Lee has the experience and record to be able to deliver solutions to these problems for Californians and the nation. She has been fighting for justice her entire life, and she continues to deliver real change. Across the nation, we deserve leaders who have proven they can move our country forward. I am proud to endorse her for the U.S. Senate.”

“I am honored and grateful to be endorsed by Stacey Abrams,” said Lee. “Her grassroots organizing was instrumental in changing the face of Georgia and moving the needle for progress in this country. There are many lessons candidates running in California can take from her movement that can help us elect more progressive candidates and turn progressive policy into law.

“I’m running for U.S. Senate to deliver real, progressive change on the issues that matter most to Californians and the country and make sure each and every one of us has a voice that’s heard and a seat at the table,” said Lee.

Abrams’ endorsement comes just days after the campaign announced the endorsement of Assistant House Democratic Leader Congressman Jim Clyburn (SC).

In recent weeks, Lee has also 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.

She 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.