Honestly, it’s a bit of a whirlwind right now in D.C., especially if you’re looking at the California delegation. For decades, when people thought of a black congresswoman from california, one name basically dominated the conversation: Barbara Lee. But as we hit 2026, the landscape has shifted in ways that most people didn’t see coming a few years back.
Barbara Lee isn't in the House anymore. She’s the Mayor of Oakland now.
That leave-taking created a massive vacuum in the 12th District, a seat she’d held since the late 90s. If you follow West Coast politics, you know that seat is legendary. It’s the heart of progressive activism. Now, Lateefah Simon is the one sitting in that chair. She stepped into the 119th Congress with a resume that reads like a masterclass in civil rights advocacy, but the pressure to fill Lee’s shoes is, frankly, enormous.
The Power Players You Need to Know
While the faces change, the influence of the black congresswoman from california remains the backbone of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). You’ve got a mix of the "old guard" and the new energy.
Maxine Waters is still there. She's 87 years old and still more active than most people half her age. In late 2025, she was already pushing the Fair Competition for Small Business Act alongside Cory Booker. She doesn't just "show up." She’s the Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee. If there’s a debate about banking or housing equity, you’ll hear her voice. People call her "Aunty Maxine" for a reason—she’s built a level of brand loyalty that transcends policy.
Then there’s Sydney Kamlager-Dove.
She took over Karen Bass’s seat (District 37) after Bass left to lead Los Angeles as mayor. Kamlager-Dove has been incredibly busy lately. She’s the Whip of the CBC now. Just this past January, she was appointed to the Judiciary and Foreign Affairs committees. She’s been really vocal about "L.E.A.D."—Land, Economic justice, Art, and Democracy. It's her personal framework for how she approaches legislation.
Why the 12th District Shift Matters
Lateefah Simon winning Barbara Lee's seat was a huge moment for San Francisco and Oakland. Simon isn't just a career politician; she’s a MacArthur "Genius" Grant recipient. She’s legally blind and has spent her life fighting for transit equity and criminal justice reform.
✨ Don't miss: Texas Flash Floods: What Really Happens When a Summer Camp Underwater Becomes the Story
People were worried. Would the 12th District lose its "conscience of the Congress" status?
It doesn’t look like it. Simon has jumped straight into the fray, focusing on small business and oversight. She’s carrying that same torch of radical transparency that Lee was known for. It's a different vibe, sure. More modern, maybe a bit more focused on the intersection of tech and civil rights, which makes sense given her background in the Bay Area.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Role
There is a common misconception that every black congresswoman from california is exactly the same ideologically. That’s just not true.
If you look at the voting records, there’s nuance.
- Maxine Waters is the master of the "long game." She knows how to use committee power to squeeze concessions from banks.
- Sydney Kamlager-Dove is deep into foster youth advocacy and environmental justice.
- Lateefah Simon is bringing a lived experience of disability and transit reliance to the table.
They aren't a monolith. They clash, they negotiate, and they prioritize different things. For instance, Kamlager-Dove has been very focused on the African diaspora and international relations lately, even helping secure the release of a constituent wrongfully detained in Venezuela. That’s a very different lane than Waters' focus on domestic financial regulation.
The Prop 50 Factor: A 2026 Reality Check
We have to talk about the redistricting fight.
Right now, there’s a massive debate over Proposition 50 in California. This ballot measure is a big deal because it could allow the state to redraw congressional district maps for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections.
🔗 Read more: Teamsters Union Jimmy Hoffa: What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of people are nervous.
State Senator Akilah Weber-Pierson, who chairs the California Legislative Black Caucus, has been sounding the alarm. The fear is that if these maps are redrawn in a certain way, it could dilute the voting power of Black communities in places like Sacramento and the Inland Empire.
If the maps change too much, the very concept of a black congresswoman from california representing a majority-minority district could be at risk in future cycles. It's why leaders like Kamlager-Dove have been so "uber-aggressive" (her words) in calling out potential cuts to programs like Medi-Cal and Medicare that hit these districts the hardest.
Real Impact on the Ground
What does this mean for you? Well, it depends on where you live.
In Los Angeles, the 43rd and 37th districts are basically the epicenter of Black political power in the West. When Maxine Waters introduces the Urban and Rural Diabetes Initiative Act, she’s looking at the health disparities in her own backyard. When Kamlager-Dove pushes the Mamas and Babies in Underserved Communities Act, she’s literally trying to stop preventable deaths in her district.
This isn't just "theatre." It's life-or-death policy.
The Legacy of Firsts
You can't understand the current crop of leaders without looking back at Yvonne Brathwaite Burke.
💡 You might also like: Statesville NC Record and Landmark Obituaries: Finding What You Need
She was the original trailblazer. The first African-American woman elected to the U.S. House from the West back in 1973. She was also the first person to ever give birth while serving in Congress and secure maternity leave.
That legacy of "firsts" continues.
- Barbara Lee: The only "no" vote against the 2001 AUMF (Authorization for Use of Military Force).
- Maxine Waters: The first Black woman to chair the Financial Services Committee.
- Lateefah Simon: One of the few members of Congress to openly navigate the halls of power with a significant visual impairment.
Actionable Steps for Staying Informed
If you want to actually keep up with what a black congresswoman from california is doing—and not just read the headlines—you’ve got to go to the source.
- Track the Roll Calls: Don't just listen to the speeches. Look at the votes. Websites like LegiScan or Congress.gov let you see exactly how Waters or Simon voted on specific amendments. You’d be surprised how often "bipartisan" bills actually have contentious sub-votes.
- Follow the Committees: The real work happens in the subcommittees. If you care about civil rights, watch the House Judiciary Committee hearings where Kamlager-Dove is active. If you care about your wallet, watch the Financial Services Committee.
- Engage with Local Offices: Most people don't realize these congresswomen have robust local offices in L.A. and Oakland. They hold town halls that aren't always televised. That’s where the real "tea" is spilled regarding local redistricting and Prop 50.
- Watch the CBC Whip: Since Kamlager-Dove is the Whip, her job is to keep the caucus in line. Watching which bills she "whips" for gives you a direct window into the CBC’s true priorities for 2026.
The 119th Congress is proving to be a transitional era. We are seeing the rise of a new generation of Black women in California politics who are tech-savvy, transit-focused, and unafraid to challenge the old ways of doing things while still respecting the giants whose shoulders they stand on.
Whether it’s Lateefah Simon navigating her first term or Maxine Waters holding the line on Wall Street, the influence of these women is arguably at its highest point in history. The key is to watch the policy, not just the person.
To keep a pulse on these legislative shifts, monitor the upcoming 2026 primary filings in California. These filings will reveal which districts face the most significant challenges under the newly proposed maps, directly affecting the future of representation for these communities.