John, I have exciting news to share:
I’m officially running for Congress in California’s 12th District!
I’m going to tell you a bit more about me and why I’m running in a moment. First, though — I’m committed to running a grassroots, people-powered campaign. That means, in order to win, I’m going to need your help.
John — will you be one of the first people to personally endorse our campaign? Your endorsement will show the strength of our movement as we gear up for this race.
I’m running for Congress because I want to fight an unjust system and uplift the powerful voices in my community.
I’m going to fight and win for families, for working people.
I know all too well what it means to work two or three jobs and still not have enough to make ends meet. I was a teen parent, worked my way through school — and led community programs that employed and trained low-income young women of color who were struggling on the streets, and victims of human trafficking...
What did I do? I decided to fight the system — and fight for my community.
At 16, I began my career of advocacy as an outreach coordinator for the Young Women’s Freedom Center. A few years later, I would be running the Center as a young mom — and in 2003, I was named a MacArthur Fellow for my work.
At age 18, I gave birth to my eldest daughter, Aminah — and I quickly learned as a young single mother that the government wasn’t working for people like me.
I was later chosen by then-San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris to lead the first-of-its-kind anti-recidivism initiative for young adults charged with low-level offenses.
On Father’s Day in 2014, I lost my husband — the love of my life — to cancer. Even with insurance, the hospital bills left our family nearly a million dollars in debt. Thankfully, my community rallied around our family, helping us with rent and groceries, lifting us up and pushing us forward even in the darkest of times.
I wanted to give back to the community who had done so much for us. So, in 2016, I ran for (and won!) local office — a transportation board seat representing the sole Black-majority district.
Along the way, I unfairly lost my board seat to bureaucratic rules — but I got it back by doing what I do best: fighting an unjust system.
And that’s what I’m going to do in Congress. I’m going to keep fighting for our communities and against the powerful special interests in Washington.
But I can’t do it alone. In order to run a strong campaign, we need to build as much support as we can as early as we can. Will you show your support for our campaign by adding your personal endorsement right now?
Thank you,
Lateefah Simon
PAID FOR BY LATEEFAH FOR CONGRESS
