Bonin is the latest in a growing list of highly-respected progressive leaders who have backed Lee’s historic campaign

OAKLAND, CA — Today, Congresswoman and U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Lee announced the endorsement of former Los Angeles Councilmember Mike Bonin.

Bonin served as the LA City Councilmember for District 11, representing portions of the Westside, from 2013 to 2022. Bonin was consistently one of the Council’s most progressive members. During his tenure, he fought to raise the minimum wage to one of the highest in the country, help LA achieve 100% clean energy, and was one of the strongest voices in the homelessness crisis. Prior to his role on the Council, he served as deputy chief of staff for former LA City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter and Congresswoman Jane Harman and was the co-founder and program director of Camp Courage, a leadership training program focused on same-sex marriage advocacy and LGBT issues.

“Barbara Lee has always been first in line to take on the most important battles that face us. She was one of the first legislators to fight for survivors of domestic violence, to prioritize the fight against poverty, and to sign onto Medicare for All and a Green New Deal. She was one of the first and one of the most dependable allies for the LGBTQ community, taking on hate crime legislation and fighting to prevent discrimination and combat homophobia,” said Bonin. “Barbara Lee has been a fierce and effective fighter for our entire state and our country. She’s the right choice to represent California in the United States Senate and I’m so proud to endorse her.”

“From housing to homelessness to a living wage, Councilman Bonin has been a fighter for justice and a champion for standing up for what’s right. I’m honored to be endorsed by him,” said Lee. “I’m running for U.S. Senate to continue to fight for the people of California and for our entire country – to ensure that everyone has access to affordable housing, economic security, and a path to the middle class. I’ll never back down from fighting for progressive policies that will give Californians and all Americans the opportunity to thrive and to have a seat at the table.”

Bonin is the latest progressive to back Lee’s campaign. Last week, Lee announced the endorsement of Congressional Progressive Caucus member Congressman Marc Pocan and she has been endorsed in recent months by Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal, Deputy Chair Ilhan Omar, and Deputy Whip Ro Khanna, highlighting the coalescing of progressive support around Lee’s campaign.

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, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, Congressmembers Jamaal Bowman, Sheila Jackson Lee, Steven Horsford, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Troy Carter, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Nikema Williams, Jim Clyburn, Bennie Thompson, Lucy McBath, Terri Sewell, and Gregory Meeks, former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Cedric Richmond, former Georgia General Assembly House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, 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 Emeritus Amar Shergill, California Democratic Party LGBTQ Caucus Co-Chair Emeritus 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. Since 1789, when the first Congress met, only two African American women have been in the Senate, serving a total of 10 years.