This Congresswoman Wants To Be The First Black Woman In A Party Leadership Role (Ever)

A Democratic congresswoman could become the first black woman to ever hold a position of leadership within either of the country's two major political parties. California Rep. Barbara Lee will run for the House Democratic Caucus chair, she announced Monday.

"I am so inspired to fight alongside you as we work to win back the majority," Lee said in a letter announcing her candidacy to her House colleagues. "There is nothing more important than returning bold Democratic leadership to Congress."

Lee is the second person to have officially entered the race for House Democratic Caucus Chair, a position that will become vacant next session due to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's defeat of Rep. Joe Crowley, the current chair, in New York's June primary. Fellow California Rep. Linda Sanchez announced her candidacy last week.

But Lee's candidacy could end in a historic milestone. Should she win her bid for Democrat's fourth-highest leadership position, Lee, who has served in Congress for 20 years, would become the first African-American woman to ever occupy such a leadership role in either the Democratic of Republican party.

And for Lee, it's time that an African-American woman stepped into the spotlight as the face of leadership within the Democratic Party. "When you look at the history of the Democratic Party and the Democratic leadership, African-American women... we've been the backbone of the Democratic Party," the congresswoman said in an interview with Politico. "We should be in the face of leadership also."

According to Politico, Lee went on to say that African-American women have already shown that they can "lead not only our communities, but lead our country, on the very tough issues facing us."

In announcing her intention to run for House Democratic Caucus Chair in the 116th Congress to her colleagues, Lee said her candidacy was based on three beliefs: that the strength of the Democratic caucus lies in the party's diversity, that the party was at its best when everyone was given the opportunity to contribute, and that they must continue to work to improve all peoples' lives.

"By putting people first, we will regain the majority and strengthen it for the future," she wrote in her letter. "It is an honor to fight this battle together."

But the race for House Democratic Caucus chair won't be the first time Lee and Sanchez have vied for the same position. According to Politico, both women ran for the caucus' vice chair in 2016 with Sanchez winning by just two votes. Their race for House Democratic Caucus chair could be a similarly close competition.

Both women have congressional leadership experience. While Sanchez has been serving as the caucus' vice chair, Lee has been chairing the Progressive Caucus' Peace and Security Task Force and serving as the vice chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus, according to CBB. She has also previously chaired the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chaired the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

With voting for House Democratic Caucus chair not expected to take place until after this year's midterm elections are over in November, there's still time for other candidates to enter the race.