Public Policy Institute of California Survey Shows Statistical Dead Heat in Race for U.S. Senate

OAKLAND, CA – Congresswoman Barbara Lee has picked up significant momentum and is statistically tied in the race to be California’s next Senator, according to a poll released this week by the Public Policy Institute of California. 

According to the PPIC poll released Wednesday evening, Lee is within the survey’s margin of error of second place in the March Primary election, enough to earn her a spot in the November General Election in California’s top-two primary system. 

The Barbara Lee for Senate Campaign released the following statement in response to the poll results: 

“Pretty much every poll we see confirms that when voters learn about the inspiring work Congresswoman Lee has done on behalf of the people of California, support for her campaign for Senate grows. More and more voters are seeing that Barbara Lee will be their champion in the Senate – a leader who will work to lift people out of poverty and stand up for the middle class, working families and the 20 million Californians living one paycheck away from poverty; who will fight to protect reproductive freedom; and who will work to stop extremists from rolling back fundamental rights.  There is an important difference between the candidates in this race – and only Barbara Lee has had a record of progressive accomplishments and the proven ability to legislative, negotiate and appropriate. That clearly matters to voters and will give Barbara Lee the advantage as we get closer to the Primary.”  

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.