Lee, 78, declared victory April 19 after her opponent, Loren Taylor, conceded. She will finish the term of recalled Mayor Sheng Thao.
OAKLAND, Calif. — Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, a veteran lawmaker and 1973 graduate of Mills College — now part of Northeastern University — has been elected mayor of Oakland.
Lee, 78, declared victory April 19 after her opponent, Loren Taylor, conceded. She will complete the term of recalled Mayor Sheng Thao, taking the helm of a city of more than 400,000 residents.
“Oakland is a deeply divided city,” Lee said in her victory speech. “I answered the call to run so we can come together to solve our challenges.”
Her election caps a long career in public service. Lee served in the California legislature before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where she represented the East Bay for 25 years and authored 67 bills signed into law.
Renée Jadushlever, vice president of campus administration and strategic initiatives at Northeastern University, has worked on the Oakland campus since 1991, collaborating with Lee for many years on issues relevant to Mills College and the congresswoman’s district.
Jadushlever said the mayor-elect is a proven leader.
“Throughout her distinguished career, she has tackled systemic inequities facing underserved communities with bold, community-centered leadership,” Jadushlever said. “Her experience ensures she’ll hit the ground running, making an immediate impact while uniting Oakland under a shared vision of progress and possibilities.”
Lee’s connection to her alma mater remains strong. Last year, she returned to Northeastern’s Oakland campus alongside actress Christina Jackson, who portrayed her in the Netflix biopic “Shirley.”
During that visit, Lee reflected on her student experience and early interest in politics, including a 1972 campus event featuring Shirley Chisholm — the first Black woman to run for president — that motivated her to register to vote and attend the Democratic National Convention.
“She told me to vote, and I did,” Lee said. “That’s where it all started.”
Lee also visited the university archives, where she revisited newsletters and documents from her student years, highlighting her passion for global education and campus engagement.
As mayor, Lee has pledged to prioritize public safety, local job growth and citywide infrastructure investment.
Her campaign drew endorsements from former California Gov. Jerry Brown and several past Oakland mayors, who praised her experience and steady leadership.
Lee’s term runs through November 2026, when she will be eligible to run for a full term.