Oakland, California – In a tightly contested 2025 special election, former U.S. Representative Barbara Lee has been declared the next Mayor of Oakland, defeating a field of more than half a dozen candidates in a race that came down to the wire.
Decision Desk HQ projected Lee’s win late Friday after the final mail-in ballots were counted, marking a significant political comeback for the veteran Democrat in a city grappling with rising crime, political upheaval, and voter fatigue.
The race, though initially tipped in Lee’s favour, took a surprising turn. Former City Council member Loren Taylor surged ahead in early vote counts on Tuesday night, leading with 48.2% to Lee’s 45.7% — a gap of around 1,200 votes.
Taylor, who previously lost to now-former Mayor Sheng Thao in 2022, was viewed as a long-shot turned serious contender in this election. But the tide shifted.
More than 40,000 mail-in ballots were counted later in the week. By Friday, Lee had reversed the deficit and secured a 5-point lead, nearly 5,000 votes ahead. That slim margin was enough to clinch victory without needing further ranked-choice voting rounds.
Oakland had been without a permanent mayor since November 2024, following a dramatic recall of Sheng Thao, who was ousted with over 60% of voters in favour of her removal — a historic first for the city.
Thao, the first Hmong American woman to serve as mayor of a major US city, faced heavy criticism during her short tenure. A spike in crime during the COVID-19 pandemic never fully subsided. In fact, robberies and burglaries soared in 2023, her first year in office.
Despite a slight dip in crime stats entering 2025, Thao was under increasing fire for her sour relationship with the police union and a missed grant deadline that cost the city millions meant to fight retail theft.
Things only worsened. In June 2024, the FBI raided her home, though officials initially gave no explanation.
Months later, Thao was indicted on charges including bribery and conspiracy, accused of awarding city contracts in exchange for personal financial gain. She has pleaded not guilty and denied all wrongdoing.
Lee, a longstanding progressive and former member of Congress, was expected to have an easy path to victory. Backed by local heavyweights like interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins, former Governor Jerry Brown, and several former mayors, her support from the Democratic establishment ran deep.
“Jerry Brown also previously served as Oakland mayor,” adding weight to his endorsement.
Yet the race grew competitive in the final weeks. Two polls, funded by Taylor’s campaign and his supporters, showed a neck-and-neck contest.
Taylor, running on a moderate platform, secured his own set of endorsements, including San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and former Council President Pat Kernighan. The battle unfolded as a subtle proxy war within the Democratic Party Lee as the establishment-backed progressive, Taylor as the moderate disruptor.
Lee’s Priorities Moving Forward
According to her campaign website, Barbara Lee’s mayoral agenda focuses on:
- A comprehensive public safety strategy
- Expanding housing and mental health services for the unhoused
- Tightening city ethics laws and governance
“Her goal is to make Oakland safer, more inclusive, and more accountable.”
Barbara Lee’s win in the 2025 Oakland mayoral election signals both a return to political stability and a renewed progressive vision for the city. But the narrow margin of victory and Taylor’s strong showing suggest that residents are demanding tangible change, not just familiar names. As Oakland turns a new page, all eyes are on Lee to deliver.
