Barbara Lee

Barbara Lee
Barbara Lee
52nd Mayor of Oakland
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; May 20, 2025
Preceded by	Kevin Jenkins (acting)
	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)
Preceded by
Caucus positions; 2005–⁠2011
Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus
	In office; January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick
Succeeded by	Emanuel Cleaver
Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus
	In office; January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2009 Serving with Lynn Woolsey
Preceded by	Peter DeFazio
Succeeded by	Raúl Grijalva
Member of the California State Senate; from the 9th district
	In office; December 2, 1996 – April 17, 1998
Preceded by	Nicholas C. 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 (1990–92); 16th district (1992–96)
Personal details
Born	Barbara Jean Tutt; 16 July 1946 (aged 79); El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Carl Lee (m. 1964; div. 1966); Clyde Oden (m. 2019);
Children	2
Education	Mills College (BA); University of California, Berkeley (Master of Social Work)
Website	Campaign website
	Lee's voice
	Lee opposing military force against Afghanistan; Recorded September 14, 2001
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Barbara Jean Lee^[a] (born July 16, 1946) is an American politician. She was a U.S. representative from California from 1998 to 2025. She became Mayor of Oakland, California on May 20, 2025.^[1] She is a member of the Democratic Party.^[2]

Career

2000s

Lee used to be chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (2005–09).^[3] 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.^[4]^[5]

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.^[6]

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.^[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 was not one of the top two candidates.^[9]

Barbara Lee Media

Lee speaking on the House floor on the December 19, 1999 debate that preceded the vote on impeaching President Bill Clinton
Lee at John Lewis's funeral in Atlanta on July 30, 2020
Lee meets with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and the STS-129 Space Shuttle crew in 2010
Lee attends a bill signing ceremony in 2009
Lee with Rev. Dr. Clyde Oden Jr. on their wedding day on December 31, 2019