Simon, Lateefah

Lateefah Simon represents California's 12th Congressional District, which includes Oakland and Berkeley. She entered the House in January 2025, succeeding longtime Representative Barbara Lee. Simon's career is rooted in over three decades of community organizing and nonprofit leadership. At age 26, she became the youngest woman to receive a MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship for her work as executive director of the Young Women's Freedom Center. She later collaborated with then-District Attorney Kamala Harris to launch the "Back on Track" program, a nationally recognized initiative designed to reduce recidivism among young adults.

In Congress, Simon serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the House Committee on Small Business. Her subcommittee work spans health care, financial services, and innovation. Born legally blind, Simon has been a lifelong advocate for public transportation, previously serving as the president of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors. Her legislative priorities reflect this background, with sponsored bills such as the Connecting Communities Through Transit Planning Act of 2026 and the RIDER Safety Act.

Simon's policy focus also includes protecting the rights of marginalized groups and supporting small business growth. She has introduced the Disability and Age in Jury Service Nondiscrimination Act and the Small Business Representation in Contracting Rulemaking Act. Within the House, she holds leadership roles as a Deputy Whip for Policy and as a Vice Chair of both the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Equality Caucus. She is the first Muslim woman from California and the first congenitally blind individual to serve in the U.S. Congress.