Silicon Valley CEO Lexi Reese resigned

California

Race in the US Senate, citing difficulties in fundraising and inability to gain control of the election

voters of the state

.

Reese took part in the California Democratic Party’s endorsement process and spoke to attendees in Sacramento just before Thanksgiving. But she

only

won

only

the support of three delegate votes out of 2,322 votes cast, leaving her far behind Democratic House members Katie Porter (D-Irvine), Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) and Adam Schiff (D-Burbank).

Her appearance at the convention’s Senate forum was a finale of sorts to her campaign. Protesters angry about Israel’s invasion of Gaza disrupted her speech and she struggled to continue.

“While the financial realities of the Senate elections have prompted me to stop running for this seat, we will continue to focus on this question: What do we want to be when we grow up? As a state, as a nation and as human beings. ,” Reese said in a written statement.

“I started this race to build a safer world for our children. I feel stronger than ever that we need to think in a much bigger, bolder way about how to make life livable.”

The 48-year-old previously worked at Google, Facebook and American Express, but had never applied for office. When she first entered the race, Reese declined to reveal her net worth, saying she did not want to give an inaccurate figure, but added that she could not self-finance her campaign even though she planned to make a significant amount to invest in its run.

Reese gave her campaign about $530,000 and raised money

one more

$1.28 million in contributions, according to federal disclosures available through the end of September. She said in a statement Monday that she had raised a total of $2 million

far

less than its competitors. She also never gained traction in opinion polls.

In her statement announcing the end of her campaign,

Reese advocated for term limits as a way to diversify the backgrounds of those serving in Congress.

“We need open seats and campaign finance reform so that the cost of entry is not prohibitive for most people.”

Reese said in a written statement. “My husband and I self-funded $500,000 of our campaign, a privilege I realize most people don’t have. It wasn’t nearly enough.”

Times Staff Writer Seema Mehta contributed to this report.