Barbara Lee Wins Oakland Mayor Race as Former Congressman Taylor Concedes

Former U.S. Representative Barbara Lee has claimed victory in Oakland's special mayoral election after challenger Loren Taylor conceded the race. Lee, who represented Oakland in Congress from 1998 until January 2025, secured 50.6% of the vote according to the latest update from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters. The special election was triggered after voters recalled previous mayor Sheng Thao from office last year.

Lee's political experience spans decades in both federal and state government. The Democrat served in the California State Assembly for six years and the state Senate for two before her lengthy congressional career. She recently ran an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by the late Dianne Feinstein. Lee holds degrees from Mills College in Oakland and a master's in social work from UC Berkeley.

Taylor, who conceded on Saturday, acknowledged Lee's victory while highlighting that 47% of Oakland voters supported his campaign. In his concession statement, Taylor referenced concerns about "the waning relevance of a Democratic Party that puts old-guard politics over improving the lives of everyday people." The race featured ten candidates in total, with Lee and Taylor widely considered the frontrunners.

Oakland utilizes a ranked choice voting system that allows voters to list candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives more than 50% of first-choice votes, the system redistributes votes from eliminated candidates according to voters' rankings until one candidate achieves a majority. According to election officials, Lee surpassed Taylor by approximately 5,000 votes in the latest count, with the next update scheduled for April 25.

In her victory statement, Lee thanked Oakland voters and indicated she plans to begin work immediately, stating, "We intend to hit the ground running." District 7 Councilmember Ken Houston had already congratulated Lee prior to Taylor's formal concession, expressing confidence in her victory given the substantial vote margin. The special election concludes a period of political transition for Oakland following the recall of the previous mayor.