You might've heard that Oakland’s political scene has been a bit of a rollercoaster lately. Honestly, that’s an understatement. If you’re trying to figure out who is the mayor of Oakland right now, the name you need to know is Barbara Lee.
Yeah, that Barbara Lee. The iconic congresswoman who represented the East Bay in Washington D.C. for over 25 years.
But how did she end up in City Hall? It wasn't exactly a standard path. Usually, mayors serve out their four-year terms and that’s that. Not this time. Oakland made history recently, and not necessarily the kind of history a city wants to make. In late 2024, the city saw its first-ever successful mayoral recall, which booted the previous mayor, Sheng Thao, out of office mid-term.
It was a mess. There were FBI raids, budget deficits, and a lot of finger-pointing about crime rates. After a brief period of interim leadership, a special election was held in April 2025. Barbara Lee, who had recently finished a run for the U.S. Senate, decided she wasn't done with public service. She jumped into the race and won, becoming the 52nd Mayor of Oakland.
The Wild Road to Mayor Barbara Lee
To understand the current situation, you've gotta look at the chaos that came before. Sheng Thao’s time in office was, well, rocky. She won by a razor-thin margin in 2022. Then, things started falling apart. She fired the popular police chief, LeRonne Armstrong, which really rubbed people the wrong way.
Then the FBI showed up at her house.
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While she was never charged with a crime, the optics were terrible. Combine that with a massive budget hole and the city’s struggle with public safety, and the recall movement gained steam fast. In November 2024, voters said "enough" and removed her.
For a few months, Oakland was basically in a state of flux. Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas stepped in as interim mayor, then Councilmember Kevin Jenkins took a turn. It felt like nobody was really in the driver's seat until the special election.
Why Barbara Lee Stepped Up
Barbara Lee is a legend in Oakland. She’s the one who famously cast the lone vote against the authorization of military force after 9/11. She’s been a fixture of progressive politics for decades. So, why would a 79-year-old veteran of the federal government want to take on the headache of Oakland City Hall?
Basically, she said she "answered the call."
The city was deeply divided. People were angry. The budget was a disaster. Lee pitched herself as the "steady hand" who could use her deep connections in Washington and Sacramento to bring resources back to the Town. She defeated Loren Taylor (who had narrowly lost to Thao in 2022) in a ranked-choice voting battle.
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What is the Mayor of Oakland Doing Now?
Since taking office in May 2025, Lee hasn't had much of a honeymoon period. She inherited a city with a "structural deficit"—which is just a fancy way of saying Oakland spends way more than it brings in.
She’s been focusing on a few big things:
- Public Safety: She recently nominated new members to the Police Commission and is still in the middle of a high-stakes search for a permanent police chief.
- Early Literacy: Just this month (January 2026), she launched "Oakland Reads 1234!", a program aimed at getting kids under six to read. Her logic? Better education today means less crime in ten years.
- Economic Stability: She’s trying to convince businesses to stay in downtown Oakland, which has seen some high-profile exits lately.
It's a tough gig. Some people love that she’s back; others think the city needs "new blood" rather than a career politician. Honestly, it depends on who you ask in the Fruitvale vs. the Hills.
The 2026 Election Looming Large
Here’s the catch: Barbara Lee is currently serving out the remainder of Sheng Thao’s term. That means she has to run again in November 2026 if she wants to keep the job for a full four-year stint.
Because of the weird timing of the recall, we're basically in a perpetual election cycle. You've got potential challengers already whispering in the wings, and the city's problems—homelessness, the cost of living, and those pesky potholes—don't go away just because a famous person is in charge.
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Who Really Runs Oakland?
While the mayor is the face of the city, they don't have total power. Oakland has a "strong mayor" system, but the City Council still holds the purse strings.
The current City Council leadership includes people like Kevin Jenkins (who served as interim mayor) and Nikki Fortunato Bas (though she moved on to the County Board of Supervisors). It’s a constant tug-of-war. If you want to get something done in this town, you have to navigate the mayor's office and the council chambers at 14th and Broadway.
Actionable Insights for Oakland Residents
If you’re living in Oakland or just moving here, knowing who is the mayor of Oakland is just the first step. Here is how you can actually get involved:
- Track the Police Chief Search: The Police Commission meetings are public. This is arguably the most important hire Lee will make.
- Watch the Budget Workshops: Usually held in the spring. If you want to know why your street isn't paved, these meetings explain where the money is going.
- Check Your Voter Registration: Since there's another mayoral election in November 2026, make sure you're ready to vote.
- Use 311: Don't just complain to the mayor on X (Twitter). Use the OAK 311 app to report illegal dumping or broken lights. It actually creates a paper trail that the administration has to track.
Oakland is a beautiful, gritty, complicated place. Having Barbara Lee at the helm brings a certain level of national prestige, but local problems require local solutions. Whether she can turn the ship around before the next election is the question everyone in the Town is asking.