Barbara Lee Launches Campaign for Oakland Mayor After Contentious Recall

Updated 11:26 a.m. Wednesday

Barbara Lee, whose term in the U.S. House ended this month, announced Wednesday morning that she is running for Oakland mayor in this year’s special election.

Her announcement comes after a turbulent year for Oakland, during which the city contended with recall campaigns, a massive budget deficit and criticisms over public safety. Former Mayor Sheng Thao was recalled by a significant margin in November, less than two years into her term as Oakland’s 51st mayor.

Lee, a 13-term member of Congress and a leading progressive voice, is likely to have broad support in Oakland.

“Oaklanders have always overcome challenges by coming together,” she said in a social media post announcing her candidacy. “At this critical moment, we must not be a city divided, but a community united.”

Following Thao’s recall, Oakland’s mayoral picture was muddy. City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas only served as interim mayor for a few weeks before stepping down to take her seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, which she won in November.

Bas has since been replaced by Councilmember Kevin Jenkins, who was sworn in Monday morning as interim mayor and will serve until a special election is held in April to fill out the rest of Thao’s term.

Candidates for the special election must declare by Jan. 17. So far, 15 others in addition to Lee have filed paperwork at some point in the process. They include former Oakland City Councilmember Loren Taylor, who ran against Thao two years ago and said shortly after the recall that he would enter the race.

Taylor told KQED on Wednesday that he will continue his campaign and that Lee’s announcement does not change his strategy.

“Oakland needs new, fresh perspectives when it comes to leadership and governance,” he said. “That’s what I intend to bring on the campaign trail in terms of how to address our tough challenges in ways that are diverging from the past administration and leadership.”

Taylor also noted that while Lee’s progressive values may work in guiding policymaking in Washington, they may not be practical in Oakland when it comes to issues like minimum wage.

Renia Webb, another candidate and a former staffer in Thao’s District 4 City Council office, said she has respect for Lee and “was inspired by her courage to stand up against the Iraq war,” but said it was time for her to step aside.

“Oakland cannot afford to put Barbara Lee in place,” Webb said. “It will only further bankrupt our city and continue with the lawlessness that has plagued Oakland for far too long. She is the continuation of the progressive agenda that has ruined Oakland.”

Lee, who served in Congress for more than two decades before choosing not to run for reelection last year to mount an unsuccessful bid for the Senate, has had her name floated by many Oakland leaders as a potential mayoral candidate since Thao’s recall was confirmed.

“I can’t think of a person better suited who truly loves this city and has the expertise and understanding of the legislative process to hold that position than Congresswoman Lee,” said Councilmember Carroll Fife. “She has the acumen, the temperament, the relationships and the experience to unite the city in a way I don’t see any candidates on the horizon being able to do.”

A letter issued by a coalition of Oakland’s “business, labor, community, government and faith leaders” in December urged Lee to run for office due to her robust legislative experience and her previous involvement in the East Bay.

“We know that to solve Oakland’s problems and unlock its powerful potential, it is going to take a unique combination of courage and proven experience. Barbara Lee embodies that,” the letter reads.

Signatories of the letter include former City Council President Bas and Councilmember Dan Kalb.

In Lee’s announcement on Wednesday morning, she said she had the support of Oakland firefighters and business and labor leaders.

Firefighters have “been an early supporter of Barbara Lee both at the state and the federal level and we are 100% behind her campaign as Oakland’s mayor,” said Seth Olyer, president of the firefighters union.

“Oakland is a very difficult place to work, and so, we all believe in the mission of Oakland. We all believe in Oakland. We are Oaklanders,” Olyer continued. “We give our bodies and everything else to Oakland, and so, we’re all in this fight together. I know she has our back and we have hers.”

Lee took her first steps toward running for Oakland mayor on Monday, opening a campaign account titled “Barbara Lee for Oakland Mayor 2025.” She also filed paperwork with the Secretary of State and with the city’s Public Ethics Commission.