California Congresswoman Barbara Lee has issued a strong rebuke of Governor Gavin Newsom’s plan to appoint California’s first-ever caretaker senator to fill the vacancy left by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in the U.S. Senate.
In a statement released Monday, Rep. Lee noted that the number of African-American women serving in the U.S. Senate stands at a mere two, and she argued that people of color should have a say in who represents them in the nation’s legislative body.
“California deserves to have its full representation in Congress, and whileGovernor Newsom has come up with a short-term solution, it is simply unacceptable that he has done so without consulting the many African-American women in our state, who are the backbone of our democracy,” Rep. Lee said.
Rep. Lee went on to explain that Newsom’s plan to appoint a caretaker senator, whom she noted would only serve until a special election takes place next year, is “an insult to the countless capable Black women who could have been appointed to the position and have the opportunity to make a real difference in our state and in the federal government.”
She also called on the governor to consider candidates who may not come from the traditional political pathways. “Given the wealth of experience possessed by Black women across our state, California should be looking for someone who can bring fresh ideas to the Senate and not just serve as a placeholder,” Rep. Lee said.
In conclusion, the Congresswoman urged Governor Newsom to show efforts of commitment to having more women and people of color in leadership positions. “That commitment should start with taking the time to listen to marginalized communities and look for potential candidates who can bring the experience and perspective that is not yet represented in Congress,” Rep. Lee said.
Given the prevalence of discrimination faced by Black women in the United States, Rep. Barbara Lee’s critiques are necessary and profound. Her message aligns with the spirit of the diverse and multiculturalist California that the state is looking to live up to. It is now left for Governor Newsom to heed her call or defy the majority voices for the sake of profit.