Democrat · California's 12th District · 2026
Lateefah Simon
Simon began working with vulnerable young women at 16 and became a mother herself at 18.
Biography
Lateefah Simon began outreach work with vulnerable young women at sixteen and became a mother at eighteen.1 Born legally blind, she has relied on public transportation to get around the Bay Area and later sought a seat on BART's board.1 She now lives in Oakland.1
By 1997, Simon was leading the organization then called the Center for Young Women's Development, providing mentoring, job training and support for young women facing poverty and involvement with the justice system.2 In 2003, at twenty six, she received a MacArthur fellowship for that work.2
Simon later worked with District Attorney Kamala Harris on Back on Track, a program for young adults charged with lower level offenses.1 Her nonprofit leadership includes the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Akonadi Foundation, and she was elected to BART's board in 2016.1 She now serves on House Oversight and Small Business.1
Her platform emphasizes affordable housing, healthcare for all, reproductive freedom, disability rights and investment in transportation and infrastructure.3 She also advocates a stronger care economy and climate and environmental justice policies.3 Fellow Democrat Jamie Joyce is challenging her in November, making this a contest between two Democrats for the East Bay seat.4
Record and controversies
Resolved BART residence dispute
In March 2022, BART announced that Simon would lose her board seat after moving outside her district, but reversed course and apologized.5 Simon said she had moved after threats and prior assurances from senior staff that she would remain eligible.5 She moved inside the district in June; BART's president said this resolved the issue and outside counsel advised that board action was not required.5