Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) informed her colleagues on Wednesday she intends to run for Senate, a supply accustomed to the discussions informed HuffPost.
Politico first reported that the consultant talked about her plans to run for Senate in 2024 throughout a closed-door assembly of the Congressional Black Caucus. Lee mentioned she is ready to make a proper announcement about her candidacy out of respect for Senator Dianne Feinstein, who has but to say if she’ll run for a sixth time period, and the ongoing storms and ensuing floods presently plaguing California.
“Right now, in respect to [Sen.] Dianne Feinstein and the floods and what I’m doing, I’m doing my work. And we’ll let them know when I intend to go to the next step. But now’s the time not to talk about that,” she informed Politico.
Lee intends to make an official announcement “when it’s appropriate,” however has already spoken to Feinstein about her intention to run, The Washington Post reports.
News of Lee’s plans to run for Senate emerged a day after Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif) introduced her candidacy. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) has additionally hinted at a run. Meanwhile, Feinstein said Tuesday that “everyone is of course welcome to throw their hat in the ring” and that she’d make an announcement about her electoral future “at the appropriate time.”
Lee represents Oakland and Berkeley and has served within the House of Representatives for over twenty years. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) reportedly thought of Lee to replace Kamala Harris in the Senate in 2020 however opted for California elections chief Alex Padilla as a substitute.
HuffPost’s Igor Bobic contributed reporting.
