Barbara Lee is expected to be Oakland’s new mayor

Barbara Lee, a former Democratic Congresswoman, took the lead in the Oakland mayoral race, as per the latest election update on Friday. She was ahead of her primary opponent, former City Councilmember Loren Taylor, with 53% of the vote compared to Taylor’s 47%. The San Francisco Chronicle called the race in Lee’s favor, projecting her as the next mayor of Oakland. Taylor conceded the election on Saturday and congratulated Lee on her victory. Despite the close race, he expressed pride in his campaign and urged Lee to engage with all Oaklanders for effective leadership. Lee’s campaign cautiously welcomed the encouraging results but stopped short of claiming victory. The race was held under ranked-choice elections, causing delays in the final vote count. If the results stand, Lee, a progressive figure with a long political career, would replace the ousted Mayor Sheng Thao. Thao faced a recall due to various issues, including financial mismanagement and corruption allegations. Lee, who ran on a platform of unity and community engagement, saw the mayoral race as an opportunity to lead Oakland through its challenges. The election highlighted the city’s need for strong leadership, with Lee emerging as a top candidate among a diverse field.