Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee has taken a significant lead in the race to become Oakland’s next mayor, according to the latest vote counts released on Friday evening. The results show Lee with 53% of the votes, while her main opponent, former City Councilmember Loren Taylor, has 47%. This lead is substantial enough that the San Francisco Chronicle has declared Lee the likely winner, stating she is set to become Oakland’s next mayor.
Oakland, a city of approximately 436,000 residents, uses ranked-choice voting. This system allows voters to select multiple candidates in order of preference, which can make the counting process more complicated. As a result, it may take weeks for election officials to finalize the vote tally from this special election.
Lee’s campaign has not officially declared victory yet, but they have expressed optimism about the encouraging results. Taylor, who represented East Oakland on the City Council for four years, has not commented on the latest developments.
If these results hold, Lee, who is 78 years old, will replace Sheng Thao, the former mayor who was ousted last year due to public dissatisfaction with rising crime and homelessness in the city. Thao faced significant backlash, leading to her recall amid allegations of mismanaging the city’s finances and a federal investigation into corruption.
Lee’s decision to run came after she lost a Senate bid last year. Following her departure from Congress, a coalition of business and community leaders urged her to step into the mayoral race to help stabilize Oakland during a challenging time.
Throughout her campaign, Lee has highlighted her extensive experience in politics, emphasizing her ability to connect with various community groups. She has pledged to address crime, homelessness, and government transparency if elected. Lee plans to hire more police officers and improve city services to enhance the quality of life for Oakland residents.
Taylor, who is 30 years younger than Lee, has focused on portraying the city as needing a leader with practical experience in local government. He has received backing from several tech and business leaders who have invested significantly in his campaign.
As the city awaits the final results, Lee’s supporters are hopeful that her leadership will bring much-needed change to Oakland.