Connect with us

Bay Area

On the Road to the Senate, Barbara Lee Celebrates Her Birthday with Sandré Swanson

With beautiful views of the skyline in the background Congresswoman Barbara Lee, U.S. Senate candidate, celebrated her birthday earlier this week at a fundraising reception hosted by Keith Uriarte and Linda Dittes in the Oakland hills.

Published

on

Congresswoman and U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Lee joins Sandré Swanson, her former chief of staff in Washington and California State Senate candidate on her birthday at a fundraiser for both of their campaigns in the Oakland hills last weekend. Photo by A. Swanson.
Congresswoman and U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Lee joins Sandré Swanson, her former chief of staff in Washington and California State Senate candidate on her birthday at a fundraiser for both of their campaigns in the Oakland hills last weekend. Photo by A. Swanson.

By Post Staff

With beautiful views of the skyline in the background Congresswoman Barbara Lee, U.S. Senate candidate, celebrated her birthday earlier this week at a fundraising reception hosted by Keith Uriarte and Linda Dittes in the Oakland hills.

Joining Lee was her former chief of staff and California State Senate candidate, Sandré R. Swanson. Swanson said, “I am actively and enthusiastically supporting Congresswoman Lee for her historic run to represent California as our Senator in our United States Capitol.”

Lee and former Assemblymember Swanson have a very long history. As young activists, Lee and Swanson met while working on the California presidential campaign of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. They both worked for Congressman Ronald V. Dellums for many years serving the Bay Area communities.

Lee’s distinguished and successful legislative career included her election to the California Assembly and the California State Senate before serving in the U.S. Congress.

After serving as Lee’s chief of staff in Washington, Swanson was elected to the California Assembly. There, Swanson represented Oakland, Alameda and Piedmont and served as the celebrated chair of the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee.

Now, these lifelong friends are both running in campaigns to make a mark in history for their community. Lee is running to become the only African American woman in the U.S. Senate and would be only the third in history to accomplish that if she wins.

If elected, Swanson would become the only African American in the California State Senate from Northern California.

Both will appear on the March 5, 2024, presidential primary ballot next year. If elected, Lee would serve in Washington, D.C., and Swanson would serve in the California State Capitol in Sacramento.

More information about these historic campaigns can be found at www.barbaraleeforca.com and www.sandreswanson.net.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activism

Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee Reflects on Her Career as She Bids Farewell to Congress

“Together, we have raised our voices and pushed the envelope for peace, justice and equity. It has been the honor of a lifetime to provide constituent services, deliver federal investments to my district, speak out, and often times be the only one to take tough votes against the tide. I have, and will continue to, fight for working families, the middle class, low income and poor people,” said Lee On her final day in Congress.

Published

on

Rep. Barbara Lee. File photo.
Rep. Barbara Lee. File photo.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Outgoing Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) expressed deep gratitude to her constituents and marked the end of her 26-year career in public service.

Lee, who is succeeded by Lateefah Simon, a civil rights and racial justice activist, praised people in her community for their support. She also highlighted her dedication to promoting peace, justice, and equity.

“Together, we have raised our voices and pushed the envelope for peace, justice and equity. It has been the honor of a lifetime to provide constituent services, deliver federal investments to my district, speak out, and often times be the only one to take tough votes against the tide. I have, and will continue to, fight for working families, the middle class, low income and poor people,” said Lee On her final day in Congress.

Throughout her tenure, Lee earned a reputation as a principled lawmaker known for taking bold and sometimes unpopular stances. One of her defining moments came in 2001 when she was the sole member of Congress to vote against the Authorization for the Use of Military Force in response to the September 11 attacks. This decision led to death threats but ultimately cemented her legacy of courage.

Lee’s leadership extended beyond her district, where she fought for social justice, the rights of low-income communities, and global health initiatives. She was a key figure in pushing for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). She was a vocal critic of the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding for abortion services.

The Congresswoman also faced significant challenges in her career, including a failed Senate bid in 2024. Yet, Lee’s efforts have paved the way for more excellent representation, with more Black women now elected to Congress. She worked closely with organizations like Representation Matters to encourage more women of color to run for office.

Lee says she looks to the future, confident that the next generation of leaders will continue her unfinished work, particularly on issues like military force and reproductive rights.

Continue Reading

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of February 5 – 11, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of February 5 – 11, 2025

Published

on

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Continue Reading

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of January 29 – February 4, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of January 29 – February 4, 2025

Published

on

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Continue Reading

Subscribe to receive news and updates from the Oakland Post

* indicates required

CHECK OUT THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE OAKLAND POST

ADVERTISEMENT

WORK FROM HOME

Home-based business with potential monthly income of $10K+ per month. A proven training system and website provided to maximize business effectiveness. Perfect job to earn side and primary income. Contact Lynne for more details: Lynne4npusa@gmail.com 800-334-0540

Facebook

Trending

Copyright ©2021 Post News Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.