San Diego County Young Democrats Endorse Progressive Champion

SAN DIEGO, CA — In a sign of who the crucial block of young voters will support in the upcoming Senate election, the San Diego County Young Democrats (SDCYD) have endorsed Congresswoman Barbara Lee for Senate, the Lee campaign announced today. 

“Our members care deeply about our future and being able to live in a country that lifts up those who need help, that acts urgently to address the oncoming climate catastrophe, and that protects our democracy,” said SDCYD President Codi Vierra. “We know that experience matters when you need to get things done on these urgent priorities, and that is why we could not be more excited to endorse an exceptionally effective progressive icon in this race for Senate – Congresswoman Barbara Lee. We are very proud to endorse Barbara Lee and look forward to working with young people throughout California to send this champion for our future to the United States Senate.”

“I am honored and inspired by the support of San Diego’s young Democrats,” said Lee. “I have always been excited to partner with, mentor, and encourage young leaders, and the trust and support of SDCYD means the world to me. We have no time to waste when acting to protect our planet from climate change and ensuring everyone can afford to live in California, and I am eager to work with young leaders to get things done.”

Congresswoman Lee has partnered with young people previously on such efforts as House Resolution 262, “Supporting the Teaching of Climate Education in Schools.” The resolution, which was written in part by high school students who have had first-hand experience with the damage being caused by the climate crisis, was co-introduced by Representatives Jahana Hayes and Maxwell Frost, the first Gen Z Member of Congress. 

SDCYD joins a growing list of grassroots groups and high-profile current and former elected officials from around the state who have endorsed Lee’s campaign for Senate, including five of the eight statewide constitutional officers – Attorney General Rob Bonta, Treasurer Fiona Ma, Controller Malia Cohen, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.

Other national and California endorsers of Lee’s campaign include 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 Ash Kalra, Isaac Bryan, Mia Bonta and Corey Jackson, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran, Redlands Mayor Eddie Tejeda, Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson, former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, 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. A full list of endorsements is available at barbaraleeforCA.com.

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.

“The partnerships I’ve built throughout my career will help me get things done for Californians,” said Lee. “I am very proud to have such a strong coalition of leaders supporting my campaign and I am looking forward to working closely with them all to deliver for families across the Golden State.”

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.