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Barbara Lee (Democrat) is the representative from California's 13th Congressional District in the U.S. House. Lee was first elected in 1998.
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.
Based on analysis of multiple outside rankings, Lee is one of the most reliable Democratic votes, meaning she can be considered a safe vote for the Democratic Party in Congress.
Lee was born in El Paso, Texas. She earned a B.A. from Mills College in 1973 and an M.S.W. from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1975.
Below is an abbreviated outline of Lee's academic, professional, and political career:
Member, Fourth Amendment Caucus, present
Member, Adoption Caucus
Former Member, Appropriations Committee, California State Assembly
Member, Arts Caucus
Member, Bike Caucus
Former Member, Business and Professions Committee, California State Assembly
Member, Caribbean Caucus
Member, Caucus on India and Indian Americans
Member, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
Member, Congressional Black Caucus Global AIDS Task Force
Co-Chair, Congressional Black Caucus Haiti Task Force
Member, Congressional Black Caucus Minority Business Task Force
Member, Congressional Black Caucus Outreach Task Force
Co-Chair, Congressional Black Caucus Outreach Task Force
Member, Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
Member, Congressional Caucus on Korea
Chair, Congressional Out of Poverty Caucus (COPC)
Whip, Congressional Progressive Caucus
Member, Democratic Caucus
Member, Disability Caucus
Member, Ethiopia Caucus
Member, Food Safety Caucus
Member, Global Climate Change Caucus
Member, Goods Movement Caucus
Member, Historic Preservation Caucus
Member, House Oceans Caucus
Former Member, Housing and Land Use Committee, California State Assembly
Member, Human Rights Caucus
Member, Hunger Caucus
Member, International Conservation Caucus
Former Member, Judiciary Committee, California State Assembly
Member, Malaysia Trade, Security, and Economic Cooperation Caucus
Member, Mental Health Caucus
Former Member, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives
Member, Native American Caucus
Member, Organic Caucus
Member, Poor Peoples Caucus
Member, Port Security Caucus
Member, Pro-Choice Caucus
Member, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus
Former Member, Revenue and Taxation Committee, California State Assembly
Member, Sustainable Development Caucus
Member, Universal Health Care Caucus
Member, Vision Caucus
Member, Women's Caucus
Chair, Congressional Black Caucus, 2009-2011
Member, Appropriations
Member, Budget
Member, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Member, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Member, Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
Astrological Sign:
Cancer
— Awards:
CWA Conference Award, 2001
HIV/AIDS Community Service Award, African American Task Force, 2001
Allen Temple Baptist Church Honors, 2001
Humane Legislator, American Humane Association, 2002
The Greenlining Academy Award, Greenlining Institutes 9th Economic Summit, 2002
Auxillia Chimosoro Award, UCSF AIDS Research, 2001
Certificate of Congratulations, Bay Capital Business and Professional Women, 2003
Award of Appreciation, A Safe Place, 2003
Union Heroine Award, Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union, Local 2850, 2001
Women of Color Resource Center Award, 2001
HIV/AIDS Community Service Award, Alameda County Office of AIDS Ten Women Campaign, 2002
Alliance for Nuclear Accountability Award, Western States Legal Foundation & Tri-Valley Communities Against Radioactive Env., 2002
Plaque, Society of American Law Teachers Board of Governors, 2002
Certificate of Recognition, Imani Baptist Church, 2002
Patriotic Service Award, 2001
Ten Most Influential African Americans in the Bay Area, 2001
Recognition, Physicians for Social Responsibility, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, 2002
Justice Clinton White Profile in Courage Award, 2002
Honor, East Bay Conversion and Reinvestment Commission, 2003
Award, Oakland East Bay Democratic Club, 2001
National Legislator of the Year, California Public Health Association, North, 2003
Citizen of the Year Award, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, 2001
Sean MacBride Prize, International Peace Bureau, 2002
2001 Ten Most Influential African Americans in the Bay Area Award, City Flight News Magazine, 2002
One Hundred Black Men of the Bay Area Lifetime Achievement Award, 2001
Leif Eriksson Peace Award, Peace 2000 Institute in Reykjavik, Iceland, 2002
MLK Celebration Award, Taylor Memorial Church, 2002
Outstanding Contribution to Social Work Policy Award, University of California, MSW Class of 1975, 2002
Beloved Community Award, Community Learning Program at the University of Creation Spirituality, 2002
Woman of Valor Award, Northern California Sections of the Negro Council of Negro Women, 2002
Woman of the Year Award, Business and Professional Women's Federation Church of God in Christ National Chapter, 2002
Edward F. Snyder Award, 2001
Outstanding Community Service Award, 34th Annual Conference Sponsored by the National Association of Black Social Workers Inc., 2002
Certificate of Appreciation, Economic Development Alliance for Business, 2001
Distinguished Public Health Legislator of the Year Award, American Public Health Association in San Francisco, 2003
A Season for Nonviolence Recognition Award, Redwood Sequoia Congress, 2001
Willie L. Brown Jr. Leadership Award, 2001
Dean's Appreciation Award, University of California, Berkeley, School of Social Welfare, 2001
ANWR Award, Alaska Wilderness Coalition, 2001
Howard Thurman Award, Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples, 2001
Sisters of Fire Award, 2002
Inter-Action's Congressional Service Award, 2001
National Peacemaker Award, Houston Peace and Justice Center, 2003
Aachen Peace Prize, Aachen Peace Foundation in Germany, 2002
Who's Who in Congress Award, Bay Area Life Membership Committee 32nd Annual Banquet at the NAACP, 2003
Physicians for Social Responsibility Award, 2003
Woman of Achievement - Government Award, Isle City Business and Professional Women, 2003
National Parks Conservation Association Award, 2001
Humanitarian Award, 45th Annual City Wide Revival, Baptist Ministries Union of Oakland & Vicinity, 2002
Mary Rhodes Award, Loretto Women's Network in Kansas, 2002
Congressional Leadership Award, National Urban League, 2009
Lifetime Legacy Achievement Award, United Nations Association, 2012
— Number of Grandchildren:
— Publications:
1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice
1. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes
2. Do you support expanding federal funding to support entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare?
- Yes
1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes
Do you support the protection of government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct?
- No
Do you support increasing defense spending?
- No
1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes
2. Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No
3. Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19?
- Yes
1. Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- Yes
1. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
- Yes
2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes
1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes
1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No
2. Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19?
- Yes
1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- No
2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- No
1. Should the United States use military force to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a weapon of mass destruction (for example: nuclear, biological, chemical)?
- No
2. Do you support reducing military intervention in Middle East conflicts?
- Yes
Do you generally support removing barriers to international trade (for example: tariffs, quotas, etc.)?
- Yes
1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice
1. In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
- Yes
2. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes
1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes
Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No
1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes
2. Do you support lowering taxes as a way of promoting growth in the economy?
- No
3. Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation?
- Yes
1. Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants?
- Yes
1. Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline?
- No
2. Do you support reducing restrictions on offshore energy production?
- No
1. Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change?
- Yes
2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes
1. Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
- Yes
1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act?
- No
1. Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- No
Do you support same-sex marriage?
- Yes
1. Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict?
- No
2. Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the United States from possessing a nuclear weapon?
- No
Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?
- No
1. Agriculture
- Slightly Decrease
2. Arts
- Slightly Increase
3. Defense
- Greatly Decrease
4. Education
- Greatly Increase
5. Environment
- Greatly Increase
6. Homeland Security
- Slightly Increase
7. International aid
- Greatly Increase
8. Medical Research
- Greatly Increase
9. Scientific Research
- Greatly Increase
10. Space exploration
- Slightly Increase
11. United Nations
- Greatly Increase
12. Welfare
- Maintain Status
13. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer
14. Capital gains taxes
- Slightly Increase
15. Corporate taxes
- Slightly Increase
16. Excise taxes (alcohol)
- Greatly Increase
17. Excise taxes (cigarettes)
- Greatly Increase
18. Excise taxes (transportation fuel)
- Slightly Increase
19. Income taxes (low-income families)
- Slightly Decrease
20. Income taxes (middle-income families)
- Slightly Decrease
21. Income taxes (high-income families)
- Greatly Increase
22. Inheritance taxes
- Slightly Increase
23. Payroll taxes
- Maintain Status
1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice
1. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes
2. In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
- Yes
1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes
1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes
2. Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No
1. Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- Yes
1. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes
2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes
1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes
1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No
1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- No
2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- No
Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Unknown Position
1. Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?
- No
2. Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
- Unknown Position
Latest Action: House - 06/21/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Tracker:Latest Action: House - 06/20/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Tracker:Latest Action: House - 06/20/2019 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Tracker:
Incumbent Barbara Lee (D) defeated Laura Wells (G) in the general election for U.S. House California District 13 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Barbara Lee (D) |
88.4
|
260,580 |
|
|
Laura Wells (G) |
11.6
|
34,257 | |
|
|
Total votes: 294,837 |
Incumbent Barbara Lee and Laura Wells advanced from the primary for U.S. House California District 13 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Barbara Lee (D) |
99.5
|
159,751 |
| ✔ |
|
Laura Wells (G) |
0.5
|
832 |
|
|
Total votes: 160,583 |
rated this race as safely Democratic. Incumbent Barbara Lee (D) defeated Sue Caro (R) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Both candidates advanced past the top-two primary on June 7, 2016, by default.
| U.S. House, California District 13 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Barbara Lee Incumbent |
90.8% | 293,117 | |
| Republican | Sue Caro | 9.2% | 29,754 | |
| Total Votes | 322,871 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State | ||||
| U.S. House, California District 13 Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |
Barbara Lee Incumbent |
92% | 192,227 | |
| Republican | Sue Caro |
8% | 16,818 | |
| Total Votes | 209,045 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State |
||||
The following issues were listed on Lees' campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, .
| “ |
|
” |
| —Barbara Lees' campaign website, http://www.barbaraleeforcongress.org | ||
Lee won re-election to the U.S. House in 2014. She and Dakin Sundeen (R) advanced past the blanket primary on June 3, 2014, defeating Justin Jelincic (D) and Lawrence Allen (P&F). Lee went on to defeat Sundeen in the general election on November 4, 2014.
| U.S. House, California District 13 General Election, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Barbara Lee Incumbent |
88.5% | 168,491 | |
| Republican | Dakin Sundeen | 11.5% | 21,940 | |
| Total Votes | 190,431 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State | ||||
| U.S. House, California District 13 Primary, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |
Barbara Lee Incumbent |
82.6% | 77,461 | |
| Republican | Dakin Sundeen |
10.2% | 9,533 | |
| Democratic | Justin Jelincic | 4.9% | 4,602 | |
| Peace and Freedom | Lawrence Allen | 2.3% | 2,190 | |
| Total Votes | 93,786 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State | ||||
Lee won re-election in the 2012 election for the U.S. House, representing California's 13th District. She was displaced from her former district, the 9th by redistricting. She and Marilyn Singleton (Ind) advanced past the blanket primary on June 5, 2012, defeating Justin Jelincic (D). Lee then defeated Singleton in the general election on November 6, 2012.
| U.S. House, California District 13 General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Barbara Lee Incumbent |
86.8% | 250,436 | |
| Independent | Marilyn M. Singleton | 13.2% | 38,146 | |
| Total Votes | 288,582 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
| U.S. House, California District 13 Open Primary, 2012 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|
Barbara Lee (D) Incumbent |
83.1% | 94,709 |
| Marilyn Singleton (NPP) |
11.8% | 13,502 |
| Justin Jelincic (D) | 5% | 5,741 |
| Total Votes | 113,952 | |
|
2010 On November 2, 2010, Barbara Lee won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Gerald Hashimoto (R), Dave Heller (G), James Eyer (L) and Larry Allen (P&F) in the general election.
2008 On November 4, 2008, Barbara Lee won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Charles Hargrave (R), James Eyer (L), David Heller (Write-in) and Christopher Kula (Write-in) in the general election.
2006 On November 7, 2006, Barbara Lee won re-election to the United States House. She defeated John Dendulk (R) and James Eyer (L) in the general election.
2004 On November 2, 2004, Barbara Lee won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Claudia Bermudez (R) and Jim Eyer (L) in the general election.
2002 On November 5, 2002, Barbara Lee won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Jerald Udinsky (R), James Eyer (L) and Hector Reyna (Write-in) in the general election.
2000 On November 7, 2000, Barbara Lee won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Arneze Washington (R), Fred Foldvary (L) and Ellen Jefferds (Natural Law) in the general election.
1998 On November 3, 1998, Barbara Lee won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Claiborne Sanders (R), Gerald Sanders (P&F) and Walter Ruehlig (Natural Law) in the general election.
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