Oakland will elect a new mayor, decide on a sales tax increase, and fill an open City Council seat in a special election on April 15.
The election follows the first successful recall of a mayor in the city’s history. Former Mayor Sheng Thao was recalled in November 2024 as she faced federal investigation into allegations of providing political favors in return for campaign contributions. She was indicted in January 2025.
Thao and the district attorney were ousted by voters also concerned about the city’s budget deficit, homelessness, and crime.
Ten candidates are in the race for mayor, including an Olympian, a union factory worker, and an entertainer. Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee and former City Councilman Loren Taylor are the front-runners.
Lee, the first black woman elected to the state Senate on behalf of a Northern California district, has said she will address homelessness, public safety, mental health services, and fiscal responsibility to maintain key city services. Her top donors include the Asian Americans for Good Government Pac, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees-Council 57 PAC, Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County PAC, and the California Conference Board Amalgamated Transit Union.
Taylor, who lost his previous run for mayor to Thao, promises to increase Oakland’s police force by more than 100 officers to bring it to 800, reopen closed fire stations, and eliminate taxes for businesses with revenue under $1.5 million. Among Taylor’s donors are the California Real Estate Political Action Committee and the Govern for California Courage Committee.
Other candidates and their ballot descriptors are: educator Mindy Pechenuk, entertainer Peter Liu, Olympian Elizabeth Swaney, educator Renia Webb, vice president of governance Suz Robinson, provider Christina Grappo, paralegal Tyron Jordan, and union worker Eric Simpson.
The mayoral election will employ ranked-choice voting (RCV), in which voters rank candidates rather than choosing just one.
Also on the ballot is Measure A, which proposes a half-cent sales tax increase to address the city’s budget deficit. If approved, Measure A would raise Oakland’s sales tax from 10.25 percent to 10.75 percent. The tax hike is expected to bring in nearly $30 million annually to go toward closing the $140 million structural deficit. Measure A was put on the ballot by the Oakland City Council in a unanimous vote with no abstentions on Jan. 9. Oaklanders for Safe, Clean Streets donated $264,697 in support of Measure A, according to Open Disclosure Oakland in partnership with the PEC.
Seven candidates are running for the city’s Second District Council seat on issues including public safety, the budget, supporting small business, and housing. This election will also use RCV.
In November 2024, voters in Alameda County voiced their frustrations over crime and homelessness by voting out several progressive leaders, including 61 and 63 percent voting for the recall of Mayor Thao and District Attorney Pamela Price, respectively.
