By Evan Ward
On January 7, 2025, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) stood in the vice president’s ceremonial office, flanked by family and friends, as Kamala Harris swore her in. It wasn’t just a photo-op. It was a full-circle moment decades in the making.
Simon and Harris go way back — to the late ‘90s, when Harris was an assistant district attorney in San Francisco and Simon worked at the Young Women’s Freedom Center. Their paths crossed, and Harris saw something in the young activist. By 2005, Harris, now district attorney, tapped Simon to run “Back on Track,” a program aimed at giving first-time, nonviolent offenders a shot at redemption. It worked — the program became a national model.
Now, Simon is stepping into Congress, representing California’s 12th District — Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, and more. But her journey from grassroots organizer to Congresswoman isn’t lost on her.
“I am so honored to have my mentor and former boss, Vice President Kamala Harris, swear me in,” Simon said after the ceremony. “From our time together in the DA’s office to today, she’s shaped my public service career and paved the way for women like me to serve at the highest levels.”
For Harris, this was more than ceremonial. It was personal. The two have built a friendship rooted in their commitment to public service and the belief that second chances matter.
Simon succeeds longtime Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who left the seat to pursue running for Oakland Mayor.
