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Subramania Bharati
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| Turnout | 37.84% Unofficial results[1] | ||||||||||||
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 First round precinct results Lee: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Taylor: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Simpson: 90–100% Tie: 40–50% 50% No votes | |||||||||||||
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| Elections in California |
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The 2025 Oakland mayoral special election was held on April 15, 2025, to elect the next mayor of Oakland, California, following the recall of mayor Sheng Thao in November 2024.
City Council president Nikki Fortunato Bas served as interim mayor until January 6, 2025, when she resigned to take a seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. Fellow city councilor Kevin Jenkins then took over as interim mayor. The filing period for mayoral candidates lasted from December 23, 2024, to January 17, 2025. The winner of this election will complete Thao's current term and will be up for re-election in 2026.[2] The election used ranked-choice voting.
Multiple media and news organizations called the race for Barbara Lee on April 18, three days after the election.
Candidates
Declared
- President Cristina Grappo, provider and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2016[3]
- Barbara Lee, former U.S. Representative from California's 12th congressional district and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024[4]
- Peter Liu, entrepreneur and perennial candidate[3]
- Mindy Pechenuk, economist and perennial candidate[5]
- Suz Robinson, vice president of the Bay Area Council[3]
- Eric Simpson, factory worker[3]
- Elizabeth Swaney, stand-up comedian, competitive skier and candidate for governor in 2003[3]
- Loren Taylor, former city councilor for the 6th district and runner-up for mayor in 2022[6]
- Renia Webb, former chief of staff for then-mayor Sheng Thao[6]
Withdrawn
- Tyron Jordan, former member of the Oakland Library Advisory Commission and candidate for mayor in 2022 (endorsed Lee, remained on ballot)[3]
Declined
- Kevin Jenkins, interim mayor[7] (endorsed Lee)[8]
- Janani Ramachandran, city councilor for the 4th district[5]
Endorsements
Barbara Lee
- Federal officials
- Lateefah Simon, U.S. Representative from California's 12th congressional district (2025–present)[9]
- Statewide officials
- Jerry Brown, former governor of California (1975–1983, 2011–2019) and former mayor of Oakland (1999–2007)[8]
- State legislators
- Jesse Arreguín, state senator from the 7th district (2024–present) and former mayor of Berkeley (2016–2024)[10]
- Mia Bonta, state assemblymember from the 18th district (2021–present)[11]
- Buffy Wicks, state assemblymember from the 14th district (2018–present)[11]
- Municipal officials
- 7/8 members of the Oakland City Council[12]
- 5/7 members of the Oakland Unified Board of Education[13]
- Nikki Fortunato Bas, Alameda County Supervisor from the 5th district (2025–present) and former acting mayor of Oakland (2024–2025)[13]
- Elihu Harris, former mayor of Oakland (1991–1999)[8]
- Kevin Jenkins, acting mayor of Oakland (2025–present)[8]
- Jean Quan, former mayor of Oakland (2011–2015)[8]
- Libby Schaaf, former mayor of Oakland (2015–2023)[11]
- Individuals
- W. Kamau Bell, stand-up comic and television host[13]
- E-40, rapper and actor[13]
- Mistah F.A.B, rapper[13]
- Corrina Gould, indigenous activist[13]
- Sheryl Lee Ralph, actress and singer[13]
- Labor unions
- Alameda AFL-CIO[13]
- Building & Construction Trades Council of Alameda County[13]
- International Association of Fire Fighters Local 155[14]
- International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 21[15]
- National Union of Healthcare Workers[16]
- Oakland Education Association[13]
- Service Employees International Union Local 102[17]
- Organizations
- Newspapers and publications
- Political parties
Mindy Pechenuk
- State legislators
- Leticia Castillo, state assemblymember from the 58th district (2024–present)[14]
- Mike Morrell, former state senator from the 23rd district (2014–2020)[14]
- Political parties
- Alameda County Republican Party[14]
Eric Simpson
- Political parties
Loren Taylor
- State legislators
- Don Perata, former state senator from the 9th district (1998–2008)[13]
- Municipal officials
- LeRonne Armstrong, former Chief of the Oakland Police Department (2021–2023)[14]
- John Bauters, former mayor of Emeryville (2017–2018, 2021–2023)[13]
- Ignacio De La Fuente, former vice mayor of Oakland (2009–2011) from the 5th district (1992–2013) and former mayoral candidate in 1998, 2006, and 2022[10]
- Brenda Harbin-Forte, former Alameda County Superior Court judge (1998–2019)[25]
- Matt Mahan, mayor of San Jose (2023–present)[26]
- Patricia Kernighan, former Oakland City Councilor from the 2nd district (2005–2014)[27]
- Individuals
- Garry Tan, CEO of Y Combinator[13]
- Newspapers and publications
Renia Webb
- Individuals
- Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action[14]
Declined to endorse
- Organizations
Results
After nine rounds of ranked-choice tabulation, former representative Barbara Lee led council member Loren Taylor by just under 5,000 votes, pending mail-in votes and possible additional rounds. Taylor conceded the race on Saturday, April 19.[30]
| 2025 Oakland mayoral special election, unofficial results, April 18, 2025[31] | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 | Round 8 | Round 9 | |||||||||
| Votes % |
Transfer | Votes % |
Transfer | Votes % |
Transfer | Votes % |
Transfer | Votes % |
Transfer | Votes % |
Transfer | Votes % |
Transfer | Votes % |
Transfer | Votes % | ||
| Barbara Lee | 47,100 50.02% |
+17 | 47,117 50.07% |
+66 | 47,183 50.16% |
+59 | 47,242 50.25% |
+245 | 47,487 50.56% |
+276 | 47,763 50.92% |
+83 | 47,846 51.17% |
+421 | 48,267 51.75% |
+588 | 48,855 52.69% | |
| Loren Taylor | 42,327 44.96% |
+43 | 42,370 45.02% |
+32 | 42,402 45.07% |
+66 | 42,468 45.17% |
+94 | 42,562 45.32% |
+264 | 42,826 45.66% |
+366 | 43,192 46.20% |
+290 | 43,482 46.62% |
+378 | 43,860 47.31% | |
| Tyron Jordan (withdrawn) | 999 1.06% |
+18 | 1,017 1.08% |
+23 | 1,040 1.11% |
+22 | 1,062 1.13% |
+53 | 1,115 1.19% |
+45 | 1,160 1.24% |
+124 | 1,284 1.37% |
+245 | 1,529 1.64% |
-1,529 | Eliminated | |
| Renia Webb | 793 0.84% |
+10 | 803 0.85% |
+23 | 826 0.88% |
+47 | 873 0.93% |
+53 | 926 0.99% |
+105 | 1,031 1.10% |
+144 | 1,175 1.26% |
-1,175 | Eliminated | |||
| Mindy Pechenuk | 834 0.89% |
+8 | 842 0.89% |
+24 | 866 0.92% |
+32 | 898 0.96% |
+71 | 969 1.03% |
+52 | 1,021 1.09% |
-1,021 | Eliminated | |||||
| Suz Robinson | 754 0.80% |
+14 | 768 0.82% |
+15 | 783 0.83% |
+35 | 818 0.87% |
+38 | 856 0.91% |
-856 | Eliminated | |||||||
| Eric Simpson | 586 0.62% |
+5 | 591 0.63% |
+14 | 605 0.64% |
+51 | 656 0.70% |
-656 | Eliminated | |||||||||
| Elizabeth Swaney | 324 0.34% |
+9 | 333 0.35% |
+32 | 365 0.39% |
-365 | Eliminated | |||||||||||
| Peter Liu | 253 0.27% |
+13 | 266 0.28% |
-266 | Eliminated | |||||||||||||
| Cristina Grappo | 184 0.20% |
-184 | Eliminated | |||||||||||||||
| Total active ballots | 94,154 | 94,107 | 94,070 | 94,017 | 93,915 | 93,801 | 93,497 | 93,278 | 92,715 | |||||||||
| Exhausted ballots | +45 | 45 | +33 | 78 | +48 | 126 | +99 | 225 | +110 | 335 | +299 | 634 | +214 | 848 | +528 | 1,376 | ||
Notes
References
- ^ "City of Oakland Special Municipal Election - April 15, 2025 Unofficial Final Results". Official Election Site of Alameda County. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ "Timeline for Selecting New Mayor". City of Oakland. December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Russell, Kiley (April 8, 2025). "Special election preview: The 10 candidates running to become next mayor of Oakland". Piedmont Exedra. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
- ^ "Barbara Lee announces she's running for Oakland mayor". KTVU. January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ a b Orenstein, Natalie; Wolfe, Eli; BondGraham, Darwin (November 13, 2024). "Who is running for Oakland mayor after Sheng Thao's recall?". The Oaklandside. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
- ^ a b Yu, Betty (January 17, 2025). "Former city councilmember Loren Taylor, former city staffer Renia Webb join Oakland mayoral race". KTVU. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
- ^ Brinkley, Leslie; Howard, Lena (January 6, 2025). "Kevin Jenkins selected to serve as next interim mayor of Oakland; third mayor in 3 months". KABC-TV. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
Jenkins said he will not run for Oakland mayor.
- ^ a b c d e Gans, Jared (January 8, 2025). "Lee announces candidacy for Oakland mayor". The Hill. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ Wolfe, Eli; Orenstein, Natalie (January 8, 2025). "Oakland politicos react to Barbara Lee running for mayor". The Oaklandside. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ a b Fermoso, Jose; Orenstein, Natalie; Razilla, Azucena; Wolfe, Eli (April 15, 2025). "Taylor, Lee supporters hold out hope as grueling ballot count begins". The Oaklandside. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ a b c Jones, Blake; Norman, Nicole; Gardiner, Dustin (January 16, 2025). "California Trump allies prep for deportation fight". Politico. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
Lee's campaign announced Wednesday that she has the exclusive support of former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, as well as Assemblymembers Mia Bonta and Buffy Wicks
- ^ Karlamangla, Soumya (April 13, 2025). "A Congressional Outsider Becomes the Establishment Pick for Oakland Mayor". The New York Times. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m McBride, Ashley (April 11, 2025). "Who's endorsed Oakland mayoral candidates Barbara Lee and Loren Taylor?". The Oaklandside. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hall, Alex (April 10, 2025). "Oakland Special Election: Who's Running, What's on the Ballot and How to Vote by Tuesday". KQED. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- ^ "IFPTE Local 21 Endorsements: 2025 Special Elections". IFPTE Local 21. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ "NUHW Members Go All in for Barbara Lee". National Union of Healthcare Workers. March 24, 2025. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- ^ "SEIU 102 Endorses Congresswoman Barbara Lee for Oakland Mayor". January 17, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ "EMILYs List Endorses Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee for Mayor of Oakland". EMILY's List. March 20, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ "Endorsements: Oakland Mayoral Election". Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ "Our Revolution Endorses: Barbara Lee Mayor Oakland, CA". Our Revolution. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ "Editorial: Lee for mayor, Wang for city council". Bay Area Reporter. March 26, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ Editorial Board (March 22, 2025). "Editorial: As Oakland finances teeter, elect Barbara Lee for mayor, Charlene Wang for council". East Bay Times. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
- ^ "Oakland Post Endorses Barbara Lee". Oakland Post. April 2, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ Russell, Kiley (April 1, 2025). "Alameda Dems slam Loren Taylor to stop using logo in Oakland mayoral campaign". LocalNewsMatters Bay Area by Bay City News. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ Wolfe, Eli; Orenstein, Natalie (March 24, 2025). "They recalled Oakland's mayor. Who are they backing now?". The Oaklandside. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin; Norman, Nicole (March 27, 2025). "Resistance roars back at the border". Politico. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ Orenstein, Natalie; Wolfe, Eli (March 24, 2025). "Will labor win again in Oakland's mayoral election?". The Oaklandside. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
Pat Kernighan, a former District 2 councilmember who's endorsed Taylor for mayor
- ^ "Endorsement: Barbara Lee is an icon, but Loren Taylor has the ideas to lead Oakland into the future". San Francisco Chronicle. April 7, 2025. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ "2025 Endorsements: Oakland Special Election (April 15, 2025)". East Bay Young Democrats. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ McBride, Ashley; BondGraham, Darwin (April 19, 2025). "Barbara Lee declares victory in Oakland mayor's race". The Oaklandside. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
- ^ "Ranked Choice Voting Results: City of Oakland Special Municipal Election - April 15, 2025, Mayor, Short Term - Oakland (RCV)". Official Election Site of Alameda County. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
External links
- Official campaign websites