Nationwide — Barbara Lee, an African American woman who was a former U.S. Representative, has won Oakland, California’s special mayoral election, beating city council member Loren Taylor. She will serve as mayor until the next scheduled election in 2026.The San Francisco Chronicle called the race on April 18. Final results showed Lee ahead with 52.7% of the vote to Taylor’s 47.3%, enough to avoid a runoff under Oakland’s ranked-choice system.
At 78, Lee entered the race as the early favorite. She is known for her progressive stance on civil rights and anti-war issues. The election became more competitive when Taylor joined, running on a message of fixing what he called a “broken” Oakland. While the two candidates agreed on many issues, the race centered on their leadership styles and visions for the city.
Taylor was endorsed by the Chronicle and positioned Lee as part of the political establishment. However, Lee secured strong local backing. Her endorsements included the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, several labor unions, four former mayors, and seven of the eight current city council members.
Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins congratulated Lee in a public letter, praising her decades of public service and expressing hope for the city’s future under her leadership.
Lee takes office during a difficult time for Oakland, which is dealing with rising crime, housing challenges, and public frustration. Political analyst Dan Schnur said that although Lee is well-respected, the mood in the city is tense and expectations are high.
The special election was held after former mayor Sheng Thao was removed from office, triggering the need for a new mayor to finish the term.