California Representative and Mills alumna Barbara Lee is running for House Democratic caucus vice chair. This would make her the fifth most powerful in-house Democratic leader if she wins the leadership election in November against California Rep. Linda Sanchez.
“As Vice Chair, I will work to find innovative ways to champion the issues that are important to you, your district and our caucus,” Lee wrote in a letter to Congress as reported by The Hill.
According to the House of Representatives website, the caucus helps communicate the party’s message to members. The vice chair would assist the House Democratic caucus chairman in directing daily operations of the caucus.
During her time at Mills she was a volunteer of the Oakland Black Panther Party and said via Twitter that as a young mother, she participated in the Black Panther breakfast program that fed hungry children.
If Lee is elected for the caucus, she would join house minority leader Representative Nancy Pelosi from the neighboring 12th district in the House Democratic Leadership.
**Correction: a previous release of this article stated that Lee was a member of the Black Panther Party; she was actually a volunteer.
