Barbara Lee

Barbara Jean Lee (born July 16, 1946) is an American politician who has been the Mayor of Oakland, California since 2025. She was a U.S. representative from California from 1998 to 2025. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Career

2000s

Lee used to be chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (2005–09). She is a critic of the Iraq War and the only member of Congress to vote against the use of force after the September 11 attacks.Final Vote Results for Roll Call 342, U.S. House of Representatives. Accessed April 7, 2007.

2010s

On November 28, 2018, Lee lost an election to become chair of the House Democratic Caucus to New York Representative Hakeem Jeffries. She blamed ageism and sexism for losing. 

2020s

In January 2023, it was reported that Lee planned to run for the United States Senate seat currently held by Dianne Feinstein in the 2024 special election. In February 2023, she officially announced her candidacy, a week after Feinstein announced her retirement. Lee formally launched her Senate campaign on February 21, 2023. However, she lost the primary election because she was not one of the top two candidates.

Footnotes

References

Category:1946 births
Category:Living people
Category:African-American politicians
Category:American political activists
Category:Politicians from El Paso, Texas
Category:21st-century American politicians
Category:Mayors of Oakland, California
Category:Democratic Party (United States) politicians
Category:United States representatives from California