Among the California politicians under consideration to succeed Kamala Harris in the Senate was Oakland Rep. Barbara Lee.
“You know it really means a lot to me to be considered. So many in this state rallied around the supported me. I was on the shortlist,” Lee said on KCBS Radio’s “The State of California” program Wednesday, confirming that she spoke to Gov. Newsom about the role.
“I told him I would respect the decision he made.”
Also on the shortlist were Lee’s fellow Representative Karen Bass and Assemblymember Shirley Weber, both Black women.
But Newsom ultimately picked Secretary of State Alex Padilla to serve as California’s first ever Latino Senator, with Weber taking over for Padilla.
Lee applauded the historic choice, saying, “I congratulated Secretary of State Padilla and I look forward to working with him.”
But when Harris vacates her seat there will be no Black women left in the Senate, although though Harris will preside over the chamber as Vice President.
“That perspective and the experiences of African American women are important to solving the country’s problems,” said Rep. Lee. “Believe you me, not having a Black woman at the table when these ideas and the agenda is being developed is a huge void that we have to recognize.”
She hopes Padilla will champion some of the legislation that Harris carried, and that Harris will use her expanded influence to prioritize issues facing Black women.