Barbara Lee | |
---|---|
Co-Chair of the House Democratic Steering Committee | |
Assumed office January 3, 2019 Serving with Eric Swalwell and Cheri Bustos | |
Leader | Nancy Pelosi Hakeem Jeffries |
Preceded by | Position established |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California | |
Assumed office April 21, 1998 | |
Preceded by | Ron Dellums |
Succeeded by | Lateefah Simon (elect) |
Constituency | 9th district (1998–2013) 13th district (2013–2023) 12th district (2023–present) |
Member of the California State Senate from the 9th district | |
In office December 2, 1996 – April 17, 1998 | |
Preceded by | Nicholas Petris |
Succeeded by | Don Perata |
Member of the California State Assembly from the 16th district 13th district (1990–1992) | |
In office December 3, 1990 – November 30, 1996 | |
Preceded by | Elihu Harris |
Succeeded by | Don Perata |
Personal details | |
Born | Barbara Jean Tutt July 16, 1946 El Paso, Texas, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) |
Clyde Oden (m. 2019) |
Children | 2 |
Education | Mills College (BA) University of California, Berkeley (MSW) |
Website | House website |
Barbara Jean Lee (née Tutt; born July 16, 1946) is an American politician. She is a U.S. representative from California since 1998. She is a member of the Democratic Party.[1]
Lee used to be chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (2005–2009).[2]
She is a critic of the Iraq War and the only member of Congress to vote against the use of military force after the September 11 attacks.[3][4]
On November 28, 2018, Lee lost an election to become chair of the House Democratic Caucus to New York Representative Hakeem Jeffries.[5] She blamed ageism and sexism for losing.[6]
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.[7] 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.[8] However, she lost the primary election because she wasn't one of the top two candidates.[9]