Higher Heights for America Endorses Barbara Lee in bid for Oakland Mayor

BROOKLYN (February 25, 2025) – Higher Heights for America, a national organization dedicated to expanding Black women’s political participation and elected representation, has officially announced its endorsement of former Congresswoman Barbara Lee for Mayor of Oakland, California.

Barbara Lee is running to be Oakland’s first Black woman mayor, bringing her experience managing budget appropriations and working within coalitions to tackle the issues Oakland communities must solve, including housing, wages, economic development, and more. 

For 26 years, Barbara Lee served the people of Oakland in the House of Representatives, chairing the Congressional Progressive Caucus from 2005 to 2009 and the Congressional Black Caucus from 2009 to 2011. In Congress, she was a leading voice for civil rights, HIV/AIDS prevention and military restraint. From her time in the California legislature, where she wrote the state’s first Violence Against Women Act to protect domestic violence victims, to securing $15 billion in funding to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic, she has represented Californians bravely and effectively in Congress and throughout her career.

“Here at Higher Heights, we have always said that there is no clearer example of the Chisholm Effect than Rep. Barbara Lee, who was inspired to run for office by Representative Shirley Chisholm herself before being mentored by her in Congress,” said Glynda Carr, President and CEO of Higher Heights for America. “During her nearly 30 years of service in the House of Representatives, she has inspired countless others to stand for justice, even when that means standing against the status quo. History will remember her as the sole vote against granting the President unlimited military powers after 9/11, as well as a pivotal voice to secure funding to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic, reform unjust marijuana laws and more. We could not be prouder to endorse her to serve Oakland as the city’s Mayor.”

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Higher Heights for America is the only national organization providing Black women with a political home exclusively dedicated to harnessing their power to expand Black women’s elected representation and voting participation, advance progressive policies from the voting booth to elected office, and create the environment for Black women to run, win and lead. 

For additional information, visit: https://www.higherheightsforamericapac.org/candidate/barbara-lee-for-oakland/