Barbara Lee was born on July 16, 1946 in El Paso, Texas. In 1973, Lee received a Bachelor's Degree in psychology from Mills College. In 1975, she earned her Master's of Social Work from the University of California, Berkeley. Lee worked in the California Assembly from 1990-1996. She was elected to the California State Senate from 1996-1998.

Barbara Lee was elected to the House of Representatives in 1998.