Politico: Six Women of Color Bolt Warren Campaign

Six women of color have left the Nevada campaign of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., ahead of the state's caucuses, complaining about a toxic environment, Politico reported.And the senator has apologized for what they say they experienced in her organization.

The staffers have left since November, with three saying they felt marginalized by the campaign, the news outlet reported.

"During the time I was employed with Nevada for Warren, there was definitely something wrong with the culture," Megan Lewis, a field organizer who joined the campaign in May and departed in December, told Politico.

"I filed a complaint with HR, but the follow-up I received left me feeling as though I needed to make myself smaller, or change who I was, to fit into the office culture."

Another field organizer, who did not want to be named, said she "felt like a problem — like I was there to literally bring color into the space, but not the knowledge and voice that comes with it."

"We all were routinely silenced and not given a meaningful chance on the campaign," she said. "Complaints, comments, advice, and grievances were met with an earnest shake of the head and progressive buzzwords but not much else."

For her part, Warren has issued an apology to the six women.

“I believe these women completely and without reservation. And I apologize that they have had a bad experience on this campaign," the Massachusetts senator told reporters after an event in Derry, New Hampshire, on Thursday night.

“I tried to build a campaign and an organization that is diverse and welcoming, that celebrates people, that encourages people to bring their whole selves to work every single day,” she said.

The turmoil comes ahead of the state's Feb. 22 caucuses. Nevada is important not only because of its early spot on the nominating calendar but because it is the first chance for candidates to prove their appeal extends beyond white voters who dominate the Democratic electorates in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Warren's campaign said the three former staffers do not reflect a bigger problem in the organization.

"We strive for an inclusive environment and work hard to learn and improve," Warren campaign spokesperson Kristen Orthman said in a statement.

Two of the women said they are not sure they will support Warren, but Lewis said she would caucus for her.

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