Five months ago, Oakland voters recalled Sheng Thao. On Tuesday, they’ll decide who should pick up the mantle as the next Mayor of Oakland.
There are 10 candidates on the ballot, but the two frontrunners are former Congresswoman Barbara Lee and former Councilman Loren Taylor. Oakland has ranked choice voting, so coalitions can play an important role in determining outcome.
Lee released a video Thursday revealing her strategy. She’s asking her supporters to rank her as their first choice, followed by educator Renia Webb, then the Bay Area Council’s Suz Robinson, olympian-comedian Elizabeth Swaney, and finally Cristina Grappo, whose occupation is listed as “provider.”
Lee initially seemed to have a lock on the race. After announcing her candidacy, she was endorsed by numerous state and local officials, including Jerry Brown and former mayor Libby Schaaf, along with powerful labor unions and the Alameda Democratic Party. But Taylor soon caught up, capitalizing on a hunger for change and frustration with the status quo.
Taylor is a more moderate Democrat who ran against Thao in 2022. He has billed himself as the outsider in this race. Taylor has the support of some key business leaders, the city’s former police chief LeRonne Armstrong, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and individuals associated with the mayoral and district attorney recalls.
In the closing days, the race has been neck-and-neck. There is a real possibility that Taylor could stage an upset. That would deal another high-profile blow to Bay Area progressives.
There are parallels between this race and the November mayoral race in San Francisco, which ended with the election of philanthropist Daniel Lurie. As was the case in San Francisco, Oakland voters are upset over visible homelessness, crime, and the flight of local businesses. The city is also facing a budget deficit.
While Oakland is a solidly democratic city, many residents and businesses want to see more pragmatic solutions. That could mean choosing the more centrist candidate.
Despite the stakes, turnout is expected to be low. Around 40,000 voters have already cast ballots.
Read more about the race here.