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Loren Taylor Holds Narrow Lead Over Barbara Lee in Oakland Mayoral Race
Oakland, CA — The race to become Oakland’s next mayor remains too close to call as former Councilmember Loren Taylor holds a slim lead over former Congresswoman Barbara Lee, according to initial results from Tuesday night’s special election.
With more than 49,000 ballots counted, Taylor has secured 51% of ranked-choice votes, just ahead of Lee’s 49%. Election officials caution that thousands more ballots remain uncounted, and the final outcome may shift in the coming days.
The close contest reflects a divided political landscape in a city still recovering from the recall of former Mayor Sheng Thao and ongoing concerns around governance, public safety, and budget woes.
Low Turnout and Tight Margins
Only about 20% of Oakland’s registered voters participated in the election — a low turnout that may reflect fatigue after a fast-paced election cycle and growing distrust in city leadership.
Both frontrunners — Taylor and Lee — were widely seen as the most likely contenders to lead a city in transition. The next mayor will serve out the remainder of Thao’s term, ending in November 2026.
What the Candidates Are Saying
Speaking to supporters at his campaign watch party, Taylor urged patience and emphasized the importance of democracy.
“It’s important that we count every vote,” Taylor said. “Democracy will prevail in Oakland and beyond.”
Barbara Lee, meanwhile, remained hopeful and energized.
“We all know this is going to be a long week, but we’re doing very well,” she told her supporters. “Stay vigilant.”
Lee, known nationally as a progressive figure, was considered a dominant presence in the race. Yet Taylor’s campaign gained momentum with promises of pragmatic leadership and support from the business sector.
District 2 Council Race and Sales Tax Measure
In the City Council race for District 2, Charlene Wang led with 50% of first-choice votes, ahead of Kara Murray-Badal and Harold Lowe. The district includes key neighborhoods like Chinatown, Jack London Square, and Eastlake.
Meanwhile, Measure A, a proposal to raise Oakland’s sales tax by 0.5%, received strong early support — with 64% of voters in favor. The measure could bring in around $20 million a year to help close the city's growing budget deficit, which currently stands at $140 million.
High Stakes, Big Spending
The mayoral race drew significant financial support — with labor unions backing Lee, while tech and business leaders supported Taylor. Despite their different political circles, both candidates shared similar policy views, diverging mainly on how to fix the budget.
Taylor is open to job cuts in the city government, while Lee considers layoffs a last resort.
Each campaign tried to position the other as part of the city's establishment. While Lee emphasized her long-standing service and endorsements, Taylor highlighted his background in business and biomedical engineering and distanced himself from past political leadership.
What Happens Next?
Because Oakland uses ranked-choice voting, ballots continue to be processed and redistributed based on voter preferences. Officials in Alameda County are expected to release the next batch of results by Friday.
Until then, both camps are holding their ground, knowing full well the final decision may come down to the last round of vote tallies.
