Rep. Barbara Lee (D., Calif.) on Wednesday attributed her loss in the Democratic caucus chair race to ageism and sexism, saying she "absolutely" believes she lost because of discrimination.
Earlier in the morning, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.) defeated Lee, a fellow Congressional Black Caucus member, with a vote of 123-113. The Democratic Caucus chair is the fifth most powerful position in House Democratic leadership.
Huffington Post reporter Matt Fuller asked Lee, 72, after the loss whether she believed "ageism or sexism played a part in this race."
"Well, I think you heard and saw what took place. So I absolutely think that’s the case," Lee said.
Question: Do you think ageism or sexism played a part in this race?
Barbara Lee: 'Well, I think you heard and saw what took place. So I absolutely think that’s the case."
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) November 28, 2018
The 48-year-old Jeffries was then asked to respond to Lee's comment. He dismissed Lee's response, saying he believed the race was a "friendly competition of ideas."
Hakeem Jeffries is asked about Barbara Lee saying ageism and sexism had something to do with her losing the Dem Caucus Chair race.
Jeffries says the race was a 'friendly competition of ideas."
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) November 28, 2018
Fuller followed up by asking him why ageism didn't have anything to do with the race since he talked about "generational change" during the campaign, to which Jeffries said "everyone made their own assessment."
I asked Hakeem Jeffries why ageism didn’t have anything to do with him winning, considering he continues to make a case for 'generational change."
In a non-answer answer, Jeffries said everyone made their own assessment as to why they voted the way they did.
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) November 28, 2018
Jeffries appeared on MSNBC's "Meet the Press Daily" on Monday, where he told fill-in host Katy Tur that he has "nothing but respect for Barbara Lee" but he believed he was in a better position to "help the caucus maintain its message, discipline, the operational unity, get things done on behalf of the American people."
Tur asked about some of the Democratic leaders, including Lee, being older and whether Jeffries believed there needed to be somebody younger in a leadership position.
"I made clear I'm not running against anyone," Jeffries said. "I am running for the House leadership position."
Jeffries has been in office since 2013 and Lee, since 1998.