en 2025 Oakland mayoral special election

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The 2025 Oakland mayoral special election will be held on April 15, 2025, to elect the next mayor of Oakland, California, following the recall of mayor Sheng Thao in November 2024. City Council president Nikki Fortunato Bas served as interim mayor until January 6, 2025, when she resigned to take a seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. Fellow city councilor Kevin Jenkins then took over as interim mayor.^[1]

The filing period for mayoral candidates lasted from December 23, 2024, to January 17, 2025. The winner of this election will complete Thao's current term and will be up for re-election in 2026.^[2] The election will use ranked-choice voting.

Candidates

Declared

Wendy Adams^[3]
Johnny Gatlin, job training professional^[3]
President Cristina Grappo, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2016^[3]
Desmond Jeffries, director of recruitment and retention for the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office^[3]
Tyron Jordan, former member of the Oakland Library Advisory Commission and candidate for mayor in 2022^[3]
Barbara Lee, former U.S. Representative from California's 12th congressional district and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024^[4]
Peter Liu, entrepreneur and perennial candidate^[3]
Mindy Pechenuk, economist and LaRouchite^[5]
Fabian Robinson, pastor^[3]
Eric Markham Simpson^[3]
Andrea Smith^[3]
Elizabeth Swaney, competitive skier and candidate for governor in 2003^[3]
Loren Taylor, former city councilor for the 6th district and runner-up for mayor in 2022^[6]
Renia Webb, former chief of staff for then-mayor Sheng Thao^[6]
Larry Young Jr., real estate broker and candidate for mayor in 2010^[3]

Declined

Kevin Jenkins, interim mayor^[1]
Janani Ramachandran, city councilor for the 4th district^[5]

Endorsements

Barbara Lee

Federal officials

Lateefah Simon, U.S. Representative from California's 12th congressional district^[7]

Statewide officials

Jerry Brown, former governor of California and former mayor of Oakland^[8]

State legislators

Mia Bonta, state assemblymember^[9]
Buffy Wicks, state assemblymember^[9]

Municipal officials

Elihu Harris, former mayor of Oakland^[8]
Jean Quan, former mayor of Oakland^[8]
Libby Schaaf, former mayor of Oakland^[9]

Results


2025 Oakland mayoral special election
Candidate	Round 1
Candidate	Votes
Wendy Adams
Johnny Gatlin
President Cristina Grappo
Desmond Jeffries
Tyron Jordan
Barbara Lee
Peter Liu
Mindy Pechenuk
Fabian Robinson
Eric Markham Simpson
Andrea Smith
Elizabeth Swaney
Loren Taylor
Renia Webb
Larry Young Jr.
Total active votes

References

^ ^a ^b Brinkley, Leslie; Howard, Lena (January 6, 2025). "Kevin Jenkins selected to serve as next interim mayor of Oakland; third mayor in 3 months". KABC-TV. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
^ "Timeline for Selecting New Mayor". City of Oakland. December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Orenstein, Natalie; Wolfe, Eli; BondGraham, Darwin (November 13, 2024). "Who is running for Oakland mayor in the 2025 special election?". The Oaklandside. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
^ "Barbara Lee announces she's running for Oakland mayor". KTVU. January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
^ ^a ^b Orenstein, Natalie; Wolfe, Eli; BondGraham, Darwin (November 13, 2024). "Who is running for Oakland mayor after Sheng Thao's recall?". The Oaklandside. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
^ ^a ^b Yu, Betty (January 17, 2025). "Former city councilmember Loren Taylor, former city staffer Renia Webb join Oakland mayoral race". KTVU. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
^ Wolfe, Eli; Orenstein, Natalie (January 8, 2025). "Oakland politicos react to Barbara Lee running for mayor". The Oaklandside. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c Gans, Jared (January 8, 2025). "Lee announces candidacy for Oakland mayor". The Hill. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c Jones, Blake; Norman, Nicole; Gardiner, Dustin (January 16, 2025). "California Trump allies prep for deportation fight". Politico. Retrieved January 17, 2025. Lee's campaign announced Wednesday that she has the exclusive support of former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, as well as Assemblymembers Mia Bonta and Buffy Wicks

External links

Official campaign websites

[third-1] Brinkley, Leslie; Howard, Lena (January 6, 2025). "Kevin Jenkins selected to serve as next interim mayor of Oakland; third mayor in 3 months". KABC-TV. Retrieved January 16, 2025.

[2] "Timeline for Selecting New Mayor". City of Oakland. December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 9, 2024.

[who-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Orenstein, Natalie; Wolfe, Eli; BondGraham, Darwin (November 13, 2024). "Who is running for Oakland mayor in the 2025 special election?". The Oaklandside. Retrieved January 18, 2025.

[4] "Barbara Lee announces she's running for Oakland mayor". KTVU. January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2025.

[:1-5] Orenstein, Natalie; Wolfe, Eli; BondGraham, Darwin (November 13, 2024). "Who is running for Oakland mayor after Sheng Thao's recall?". The Oaklandside. Retrieved November 14, 2024.

[join-6] Yu, Betty (January 17, 2025). "Former city councilmember Loren Taylor, former city staffer Renia Webb join Oakland mayoral race". KTVU. Retrieved January 18, 2025.

[7] Wolfe, Eli; Orenstein, Natalie (January 8, 2025). "Oakland politicos react to Barbara Lee running for mayor". The Oaklandside. Retrieved January 8, 2025.

[Gans_1/8/25-8] Gans, Jared (January 8, 2025). "Lee announces candidacy for Oakland mayor". The Hill. Retrieved January 8, 2025.

[fight-9] Jones, Blake; Norman, Nicole; Gardiner, Dustin (January 16, 2025). "California Trump allies prep for deportation fight". Politico. Retrieved January 17, 2025. Lee's campaign announced Wednesday that she has the exclusive support of former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, as well as Assemblymembers Mia Bonta and Buffy Wicks

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2025 Oakland mayoral special election