John, long before I was one of the highest-ranking Black women in Congress and running a historic campaign for U.S. Senate, I was the little girl that you see in this picture:

[Image: Barbara Lee baby photo]

I've faced some incredible hardships in my life. Growing up in the South, I couldn't drink from the same water fountain as my white peers. And as a teenager with no access to the reproductive health care I needed in the U.S., I had to travel from my home in California to Mexico to receive an abortion.

But these are the experiences that fueled my fight for justice early on. At the age of 15, I wanted to be a cheerleader at my high school. But unfortunately, I didn't look like the kind of person that the selection committee would choose for the team. So, I worked with the NAACP to integrate my high school's girls cheerleading squad to earn my spot as a member.

[Image: Barbara Lee cheerleader photo]

I went on to become the first Black woman elected to the state Senate from Northern California. And in Congress, I've championed the voices of marginalized communities – from fighting injustices against people of color to addressing LGBTQ+ inequality to combating violence against women.

[Image: Barbara Lee]

Now, I'm running to become just the third Black woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate, where there are no Black women serving today – but we have an uphill climb ahead of us:

The Washington Post reported that I'm at a serious fundraising disadvantage compared to my opponents in this race, which is shaping up to be the most expensive Senate primary in history. But recent polling shows that I'm statistically tied with my opponents – this race is anyone's to win.

I know that with your grassroots support, we can pull ahead and win. That's why I'm personally asking, John: Will you give $5 or more to power our progressive movement to victory and build a country that works for all of us?

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Thank you for reading my story, and for being part of our progressive movement.

– Barbara Lee



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