U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-13) addressing the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention at the George R. Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, June 1, 2019. (Photo: Gage Skidmore)
Rep. Barbara Lee Remains Non-Committal on Oakland Mayor’s Race
‘Her track record with Oakland is abysmal’
By Evan Symon, January 2, 2025 6:44 am
Over the New Year’s holiday, outgoing Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued a statement on the Oakland Mayor’s race, remaining non-committal.
Following the recall of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao in November, Mayoral candidates for an April special election proceeded to come out of the woodwork. The current frontrunner is Loren Taylor, the very City Councilman who lost to Thao in 2022. Also declared are economist Mindy Pechenuk, lobbyist Isaac Kos-Read, and fellow 2022 candidate Derrick Soo. Other’s who have shown interest include Councilwoman Carroll Fife and former NFL star and Governor Gavin Newsom’s podcast co-host Marshawn Lynch.
However, the biggest possible candidate is Barbara Lee. While she has been the Congresswoman for the Oakland area since the late 90’s, she has recently encountered a series of political failures. A few years back she lost out on her bid to head the House Democratic caucus, and last year, she gave up on reelection to run for the US Senate, only to lose embarrassingly in the March 2024 primary.
Despite this, Lee received a big boost of support for a possible run last month when a letter signed by dozens of political, labor and business leaders, urged her to run. Amongst those signing the letter were Oakland City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas, AFL-CIO Executive Secretary Keith D. Brown, City Councilman Dan Kalb, Former City Councilwoman Lynette Gibson McElhaney, City Councilmember Treva Reid, and president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce Carl Chan.
Lee remained silent though, on whether or not she would be running. That is until earlier this week, when she finally gave a statement.
In a social media post, Lee clarified her position, saying that “The decision to run for Mayor of Oakland, a city that I have long called home, is not one I take lightly. As my time in Congress wraps up, my current priority is navigating the crisis before us in DC. I am working around the clock to reach a deal that will keep our government open and provide crucial resources for my district. I will announce my intentions in early January.”
In short, it’s neither a yes or no at this point.
“Lee would pretty much automatically win the race,” said Alameda County pollster Nathan Martin to the Globe on Wednesday. “She has the support, political network, fundraising ability, and name. Taylor and Lynch? They only have a few. Other are more niche, like having conservative support or support in certain areas. Lee, by far, would win, and everyone knows it.
“It’s enticing for many. This would be her sunset post, so to speak. Maybe help dig Oakland out of the hole they are in to give her legacy a positive after years of negatives. But also, this is Barbara Lee we’re talking about too. She has been blamed in part for the reason why Oakland has declined so much in the past few decades as she did very little for the district. If the other candidates are smart, and she does run, they need to point that out in every ad.
“Again, she has support. During the Senate primary, Alameda County was pretty much the only area she did well in. She also has won handedly in Congressional races in the past. But her track record with Oakland is abysmal and her age is another major concern too. She’s the same age as Donald Trump – 78. And while Trump has a whole slew of younger advisors and cabinet members and so on to help out with the load, a Mayor has far fewer resources like that. A lot less people to delegate to. Even if she just takes the term to 2026, an Oakland turnaround cannot happen that fast.
“We just have to wait for the announcement now.”
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It’s really amazing the number of awful politicians in California who simply REFUSE to go away
Why would Oakland vote for another Democrat to be their next mayor after they got rid of Democrat Sheng Thao, who was in over her head as the Oakland mayor, is beyond me. BEYOND ME.
Hi Evan,
Thanks for another good article. Yes, I am running for Oakland Mayor 2025. Below is my latest press release, I would like to share. I am the Canidate of Common Sense and not part of “all in the family candidates” that are running, including Barbara Lee.
Mindy Pechenuk, candidate for Oakland Mayor 2025
Press Release, December 25, 2025
A Great Vision For Oakland’s Future!
The Door Will Be Open to Every Single Oakland Citizen!
It is time for Oakland to make a major leap forward into the 21st century.
The Days of Pay to Play Are Done!
NO MORE BACK DOOR WHEELING AND DEALING! This is not a partisan issue, this is a time to “bring the citizens in” so we can unite the city around a new leadership which is not part of the decades long corrupted and dysfunctional leaders. I welcome each and every Oakland Citizen to bring ideas forward and meet with me personally at City Hall to have that discussion.
As our great President Abraham Lincoln said and did even as the US was in a Civil War:
“I feel—though the tax on my time is heavy—that no hours of my day are
better employed than those which thus bring me again within the direct contact and atmosphere of the average of our whole people.”
Today, as we celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah and a New Year, I want to share with you my vision for Oakland, which is to leap to the future and not pay back to the past.
The people of Oakland come first, this means wiping out the debt burden on the backs of every person in Oakland. Every religion, Christian, Jewish and Muslim calls for a jubilee against the debt. As your Mayor, I will work to clean out the bloated debts by a financial reorganization and eliminating useless, wasteful and divisive NGOs and other such projects.
The working people, small and medium business owners need the backup of the “Office of Mayor”. Yes, this means stopping the horrendous rate of crime. I will increase the number of police officers, and work closely with them on tools and projects they need. As well as working with the City Council to change the ordinances which are preventing our police from doing their duty. The oversight commissions have outlived their usefulness. We need to undo the damage done in recent years, including the latest budget cuts that shut down the police academies and fire stations.
I will go one step further-my vision is to make the Port of Oakland once again a great PORT OF EXPORT. This requires working with other Bay cities and Northern California. Image the Port of Oakland shipping agricultural products, manufacturing and industrial goods . How many new jobs would this create for Oaklanders?
Oakland could work with other cities to produce cheap quantities of natural gas and nuclear plants. At the same time we could bring some of these industries into Oakland.
No more drugs, prostitution and homelessness on our streets.
I will work with President Donald J. Trump to bring in the Federal help to solve all these problems, and they are solvable.
Join my campaign for Oakland Mayor 2025!
Have your voice, come and talk, you will be heard!
For more information contact: Gerald Pechenuk, cities12345678@gmail.com
FPPC# 1477156
I hope the people of Oakland will support this candidate for Oakland Mayor. From what I’ve learned about her she would definitely call the meeting to order. In a common sense way, of course. 🙂
Break a leg, Mindy Pechenuk!