Barbara Lee has emerged victorious in the race for Oakland’s mayor, topping fellow candidate Loren Taylor and nine others to secure her position as the city’s leader.
With this election, Lee makes history as the first Black woman to hold the mayoral office in Oakland.
On Friday, April 18, the Alameda County registrar of voters released a significant update on the election results, three days after the deadline for voters to submit their ballots.
While there are still votes left to count, most analysts believe Lee has achieved a decisive victory.
Currently, she has garnered just over 50% of first-round votes compared to Taylor’s 45%, and after the ranked-choice votes are counted, Lee holds approximately 53% to Taylor’s 47%.
In a statement regarding her victory, Lee expressed respect for the democratic process while also acknowledging that the voting results are clear: the residents of Oakland have chosen her as their next mayor.
She said, “I accept your choice with a deep sense of responsibility, humility, and love.”
Lee recognizes that Oakland is a city facing division and committed to uniting the community.
“I answered the call to run to unite our community, so that I can represent every voter, and we can all work together as One Oakland to solve our most pressing problems,” she added.
Taylor also recognized Lee’s victory, stating he had personally called her to offer congratulations.
In his statement, he criticized some elements of his campaign experience, particularly targeting political insiders and labor unions.
“We gained the support of nearly half the voting population despite having political insiders and labor unions spend heavily, spread lies, and rally against our efforts, and your hopes for the city,” Taylor remarked.
He expressed gratitude for the dedication and vision of his campaign team and supporters, noting their effort resonated with the national conversation about a Democratic Party that may be losing touch with everyday citizens.
The mayoral race drew considerable interest, with a total of 10 candidates vying for the position.
Lee and Taylor emerged as frontrunners, receiving significant endorsements, fundraising, and media coverage during the campaign.
The City Council now has 30 days to certify the results before Lee can officially be sworn in.
At 78 years old, Lee’s election marks another significant milestone in her lengthy political career, which includes decades of service as a legislator in California and as a U.S. Congress representative for the East Bay.
Lee’s term as mayor will last until the end of 2026, during which she will face a variety of pressing issues.
The city currently grapples with a $140 million deficit over the next two years, the fallout of corruption allegations against former Mayor Sheng Thao, and growing public safety concerns.
Furthermore, Oakland positions itself as a progressive city that could come under scrutiny from the Trump administration for protecting its immigrant and LGBTQ communities.
The election cycle effectively began in November when Sheng Thao became the first mayor of Oakland to be recalled due to controversies involving corruption allegations.
In December, prior to officially announcing her candidacy, Lee was encouraged to run by union leaders, business owners, and public officials through an open letter.
She officially entered the race in January.
This election marked Taylor’s second attempt at the mayoralty; he previously served on the Oakland City Council from 2018 to 2022.
Despite receiving more first-place votes during his initial campaign in 2022, Taylor lost to Thao after ranked-choice voting.
Lee and Taylor shared common ground on many issues but diverged significantly on critical topics such as policing strategies, addressing the city’s structural deficit, and enhancing revenue sources.
Lee was notably supported by labor unions and progressive activists, while Taylor received backing from individuals in the real estate and tech sectors, alongside supporters of Thao’s recall.
By Election Day, Taylor had outfunded Lee, amassing over $500,000 compared to her approximately $440,000.
In his post-election statement, Taylor expressed hope that Mayor-Elect Lee would uphold her commitment to unify the city, emphasizing the need to authentically engage the nearly 47% of Oaklanders who voted for him and seek results-driven leadership.
Throughout her campaign, Lee highlighted her extensive experience as a public servant, arguing that she could unite various community members to address Oakland’s pressing issues.
She promoted the vision of a stronger and more united Oakland.
Critics of Lee, however, questioned whether her long tenure of 27 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and prior experience in California’s state legislature adequately prepared her to lead Oakland through its current crises and restore public trust in the city’s government.
Additionally, some supporters of Taylor attempted to link Lee to Thao amidst the controversy surrounding her campaign, aggravated by Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins’s decision to fire all staff associated with Thao after a public records disclosure revealing inappropriate comments.
Lee’s support from the city’s unions raised concerns among some observers about whether her leadership could initiate necessary layoffs to address the city’s budget shortfall.
Closing the budget deficit is complicated by the uncertain sale of the Oakland Coliseum, pending final approval from Alameda County.
While Interim Mayor Jenkins is set to present the budget to the City Council within the next month, it will likely be Lee who navigates it through the legislative process.
Lee has also expressed support for reforming the city’s charter to clarify lines of accountability between city governance and the public.
“Lines of accountability to the public are not clear, and this needs to change,” Lee stated in her platform, underscoring her commitment to governance transparency.
When her term concludes, Lee will be 80 years old, and she has yet to disclose whether she will run for a full term in 2026.
image source from：https://oaklandside.org/2025/04/19/barbara-lee-wins-oakland-mayor-race-loren-taylor-concedes/
