Rep. Barbara Lee Joins Competitive Race to Replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein

By Tanu Henry California Black Media

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA12), the highest-ranking African American woman serving in the U.S. Congress, announced on February 21, that she will enter the race to replace 89-year-old Dianne Feinstein — California’s senior U.S. Senator who has announced that she will not seek another term.

ulate my opponent and share that I will no longer be opposing the election contest, and therefore resigning from the D4 seat.”

In November, the Alameda County Registrar of Voters had announced the final vote count and declared Resnick the winner in the District 4 school board race. In January, he was sworn in and took his seat on the board.

However, on Dec. 28, 2022, the registrar announced that his office had used an incorrect software program to tally the votes in November elections, changing the results in only once race: Mike Hutchinson had actually received the most votes in the three-way race for Board of Education in District 4.

I am making the choice to congrat- county registrar offered no remedy. Seeking to correct the mistake, Hutchinson filed suit and went to court. An Alameda County Superior Court judge set a trial date for March 16.

However, there are still many steps to take before Hutchinson can assume the District 4 school board seat. The court has yet to declare him the winner, and the new election result still needs to be certified.

At that point, Hutchinson would have to resign from his District 5 seat and take the District 4 position. Then, the school board could hold a special election or appoint a new District 5 representative.

While pointing out the error, the

“No one is rolling out the welcome mat – especially for someone like me. I am the girl they didn’t allow in, who couldn’t drink from the water fountain, who had an abortion in a back alley when they all were illegal,” Lee said in a video she released announcing her senatorial bid. “I escaped a violent marriage, became a single mom, a homeless mom, a mom who couldn’t afford childcare and brought her kids to class with her.”

“By the grace of God, I didn’t let that stop me,” Lee said over a soundtrack of loudening applause. “And even though there are no African American women in the U.S. Senate, we won’t let that stop us either. Because when you stand on the side of justice, you don’t quit when they give you a seat at the table. You bring a folding chair for everyone, and they’re here to stay.”

A week earlier, Lee, a 12-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives who is known for her progressive politics, filed the required paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to be a candidate in the 2024 race.

“It has been an immense honor to serve alongside Senator Dianne Feinstein, the longest-serving woman senator in our nation’s history,” Lee said in a statement after Feinstein’s announcement. “For over two decades, we’ve worked closely together to represent the best interests of our great state of California; create an economy that works for all; and advance justice and equity.”

“The progress we’ve made in the fight for equity can be seen in the Senator’s tenure itself: when she was elected in ’92, there were just two women senators. Today, there are 25,” Lee said, continuing her homage to Feinstein.

If Lee wins, she will be the only Black woman serving in the U.S. Senate. Just two Black women, Vice President Kamala Harris and former Illinois Senator Carol

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