Barbara Lee
Barbara Lee | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Official portrait, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 52nd Mayor of Oakland | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office May 20, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Kevin Jenkins (acting) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California | |||||||||||||||||||||
| In office April 21, 1998 – January 3, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Ron Dellums | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Lateefah Simon | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | 9th district (1998–2013) 13th district (2013–2023) 12th district (2023–2025) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| In office December 3, 1990 – November 30, 1996 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Elihu Harris | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Don Perata | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | 13th district (1990–1992) 16th district (1992–1996) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Barbara Jean Tutt July 16, 1946 El Paso, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Democratic | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouses |
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| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Mills College (BA) University of California, Berkeley (MSW) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | Campaign website | ||||||||||||||||||||
Barbara Jean Lee (née Tutt; born July 16, 1946) is an American politician who has served as the 52nd mayor of Oakland since 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, Lee previously served as a U.S. representative from California from 1998 to 2025, representing California's 12th congressional district (numbered as the 9th district from 1998 to 2013 and as the 13th district from 2013 to 2023). She also served in both houses of the California State Legislature from 1990 to 1998.
Born and raised in Texas, Lee was educated at Mills College and the University of California, Berkeley. She started her career by working on the presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm and was later involved with the Black Panther Party. After working as chief of staff for U.S. Representative Ron Dellums, Lee served in the California State Assembly from 1990 to 1996 and in the California State Senate from 1996 to 1998.
Lee was elected to the House of Representatives in a 1998 special election to succeed Dellums. Her district was based in Oakland and covered most of the northern part of Alameda County; with a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+40, it was one of the most Democratic districts in the country.[1] A noted progressive, she chaired the Congressional Progressive Caucus from 2005 to 2009 and the Congressional Black Caucus from 2009 to 2011.[2] She was also founding member of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus and co-chaired the House Democratic Steering Committee and the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.[3] She is known for playing a major role in the antiwar movement throughout her time in Congress—most notably in her vocal criticism of the Iraq War and for being the only member of Congress to vote against the authorization of use of force following the September 11 attacks—and for her work with President George W. Bush to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS through the creation of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.[4][5][6]
In 2024, Lee chose not to pursue re-election in the House and instead ran for Senate to succeed Dianne Feinstein.[7] Lee lost in the jungle primary to Republican Steve Garvey and fellow Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, who won the seat in the general election. After leaving Congress, Lee announced her campaign for mayor of Oakland in the 2025 special election triggered by the recall of Sheng Thao and defeated former city councilmember Loren Taylor.[8] She was sworn in on May 20, 2025, becoming the first Black woman to serve as mayor of Oakland.[9]
- ^ Wasserman, David (July 13, 2022). "Introducing the 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI)". The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- ^ "Committees & Caucuses | Barbara Lee – Congresswoman for the 13th District of California". lee.house.gov. Archived from the original on April 4, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ "Pelosi Announces Co-Chairs of Steering and Policy Committee". Speaker Nancy Pelosi. December 1, 2018. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ Final Vote Results for Roll Call 342, U.S. House of Representatives. Accessed April 7, 2007.
- ^ "Conyers Denounces Death Threats Against Rep. Barbara Lee" (Press release). Office of Representative John Conyers, Jr., United States House of Representatives. September 19, 2001. Archived from the original on March 2, 2008. Retrieved March 5, 2008.
- ^ "PEPFAR's Success Requires Continued Support from Both Parties". George W. Bush Presidential Center. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
senatelaunchwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Ravani, Sarah (April 18, 2025). "Barbara Lee wins Oakland mayoral race". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- ^ "Barbara Lee, sworn in as Oakland's mayor, promises a 'government you can trust'". The Mercury News. May 20, 2025. Retrieved May 20, 2025.