Weber is latest statewide elected official to support Lee’s bid for U.S. Senate

OAKLAND, CA — Today, Congresswoman and U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Lee announced the endorsement of California Secretary of State Shirley Weber.

The daughter of sharecroppers, Weber was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom and unanimously confirmed by the State Senate to replace Alex Padilla, making history as the first African American to serve as California Secretary of State and fifth Black person to serve as a constitutional officer. Previously, Weber served on the San Diego Board of Education and in the California State Assembly, where she was the first African American to be elected to the State Legislature south of Los Angeles. As Assemblywoman, Weber spearheaded legislation that formed California’s historic slavery reparations task force.

“Time and time again, Barbara Lee has delivered results on the issues that affect Californians most. From working to end poverty to standing up for women’s reproductive rights, she’s been a leader for justice for everyone,” said Weber. “I’m proud to endorse her for U.S. Senate.”

“Secretary Weber has been a barrier-breaker and a leader in the fight to defend our civil and voting rights for decades, and her service to California has been an inspiration to me and so many. I’m honored to have earned her endorsement,” said Lee. “I’m running for U.S. Senate because we need a leader who won’t back down. From tackling climate change to passing Medicare for All and free college to building a stronger middle class, I’ll never stop fighting for results on the issues that matter most. I look forward to working with Secretary Weber and Democrats up and down California to give everyone a seat at the table and build a more just, progressive future for us all.”

Weber’s endorsement comes days after an internal campaign poll found that the March primary race for U.S. Senate remains wide-open and competitive, with the race at a statistical dead heat when voters hear more and equal information on all three Democrats in the race.

Lee’s campaign for U.S. Senate continues to build 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, Congressmembers Ro Khanna (CA), Pramila Jayapal (WA), Ayanna Pressley  (MA), Jim Clyburn (SC), 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), former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Cedric Richmond, State Senators Susan Talamantes Eggman, 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, Feminist Majority PAC, Black Women Organized for Political Action PAC, and Higher Heights for America.

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.