Barbara Lee (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing California's 12th Congressional District. She assumed office on January 3, 2023. Her current term ends on January 3, 2025.
Lee (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. Senate to represent California. She declared candidacy for the primary scheduled on March 5, 2024.
Lee represented California's 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House from 1998 to 2013.
In her two decades in the U.S. House, Lee has chaired several caucuses, including the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. After unsuccessfully running to be the Democratic Caucus chairwoman in November 2018, Lee was appointed to co-chair the Steering and Policy Committee in the 116th Congress.
Lee was the only member of Congress to vote against the authorization for the use of military force following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
Lee began her political career in the California State Assembly, where she served from 1991 to 1997. She then served in the California State Senate from 1997 to 1998.
Barbara Lee was born in El Paso, Texas. Lee graduated from San Fernando High School in 1964. She earned a bachelor's degree from Mills College in 1973 and a master's degree in social work from the University of California at Berkeley in 1975. Lee's career experience includes working as a staffer for former U.S. Representative Ronald V. Dellums.
