Progressive stalwart Barbara Lee announces Oakland mayoral bid

Barbara Lee, a progressive icon who represented the East Bay in the House for more than two decades, officially launched her campaign Wednesday to become Oakland’s mayor in a special April election.

Lee will be running to serve the remaining term of Sheng Thao, who voters recalled in November. On Monday, the City Council voted Council Member Kevin Jenkins to serve as interim mayor until the April election.

“‘Oakland is a mess,’” Lee said in a video announcing her candidacy. “I hear this all the time. Let’s show them we are one Oakland. That’s in our DNA.” She acknowledged the problems with people living on the street, residents moving out and businesses installing metal gates for fear of crime. “Together we can house our neighbors, ensure everyone feels safe in their homes … support our small businesses and rebuild our trust. Together we can make Oakland a beacon for innovators and dreamers,” she said.

Lee’s message of “one Oakland” coming together at a time of turmoil is remarkably similar to the message of unity that Thao used during her mayoral campaign and tenure. 

Lee is eyeing the top political spot of a city embroiled in crises. A massive $130 million budget deficit has resulted in the closure of fire stations, the layoffs of city staff and a tightening of the police budget amid public safety concerns.

“She’s running on hope and renaissance, which is a powerful message,” said Justin Berton, a media strategist and the former communications director for ex-Mayor Libby Schaaf. “Oaklanders are excited about a renaissance, and they’re going to want to concrete answers to how she’s going to reopen fire stations, hire more police and get trash picked up off our streets.”

Lee’s most formidable challenger, former City Council Member Loren Taylor, 47, who lost to Thao by 677 votes in 2022, said he looked forward to “a healthy debate” with her and pointed out the age difference between himself and the 78-year-old Lee.

“While I greatly respect Congresswoman Lee and her 27 years of public service in Washington, I believe Oakland needs a fresh approach to leadership and governance. If we are going to finally solve the complex challenges that plague our city, we need a new generation of leadership,” Taylor said, noting that despite serving one term on the council, “I’m not a career politician. I’ll bring an outside perspective, along with energy and a sense of urgency, to tackle Oakland’s challenges in new ways.”

But Lee, who noted she has the support of the city’s unions, said her experience is what’s needed at a crucial moment for Oakland, which is facing a massive budget deficit.

She described her background as a small-business owner, state lawmaker and member of Congress. “Now it’s time to bring that business and legislative experience home for an Oakland Renaissance,” she said. “Let’s do this.” 

One advantage that Lee won’t have from her long federal career is a fundraising edge. While Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a Lee friend, was able to use $1.5 million from her federal account toward her mayoral run, Lee won’t be able to tap that kind of reserve: There is only $144.39 cash on hand left in her House campaign fund and and $22,928.26 left in her Senate campaign account along with $172,538.37 owed in debts by the campaign, according to federal campaign finance disclosures. Lee told the Chronicle in 2020 that “For me to raise money, being a Black woman progressive, is 10 times harder than it is for anybody else. And that’s, again, part of this whole political system in this country and how people are viewed.”

In addition to her age, Lee’s opponents will likely bring up challenges that her mentor, former Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, faced when he tried the same transition. Like Lee, Dellums was a beloved East Bay House member who led the international charge to dismantle apartheid in South Africa long before it was popular. He was also a Marine veteran who advocated for peace during the Vietnam War as a member of the House Armed Services Committee. Lee served as his chief of staff in Washington and  before succeeding him in 1998.

But many Oaklanders remember Dellums for the lackluster job he did as Oakland mayor.

As for Lee, not only were top labor leaders privately encouraging a mayoral bid, last month, a group of Oakland political, community and faith leaders wrote an open letter to her urging her to run.

“Our city needs someone who can restore integrity to the office of the Mayor, unite us in a time of division,” the letter read, “and help us address critical issues around the budget, public safety, housing, and inequity in our Town. We need someone who can bring the new ideas, policies, resources and opportunities that the people of Oakland deserve. That person is Barbara Lee.”

Many of the people who signed the letter opposed the recalls of Thao and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price in November, but the letter-signers also included Carl Chan, an Oakland Chinatown community leader who helped lead the Price recall.

Lee is beloved by the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, largely for her vote days after the Sept. 11 attacks not to give President George W. Bush a blank check to wage war in the Middle East. After being the only member of Congress to oppose the law, she held her ground despite almost universal attacks and even death threats.

But Lee will likely face something she rarely faced in her House races, which she routinely won with 80% of the vote: pointed opposition and criticism.

“She’s walking into a minefield,” Andreas Cluver, a supporter and secretary-treasurer of the Alameda County Building and Construction Trades Council, said in November. “I say Oakland needs her, because I think she’s the one person in that leadership role who can be a big part of the solution. But she’s gonna get hits. You’re gonna get hits and you’re gonna get people criticizing (you), The gloves will be off.”

Another big challenge for Lee will be the electorate, which in a special election during an off year, Ross said is more likely “to skew older, whiter, more affluent homeowner — that kind of universe. So, she’s going to have to lay out a plan that’s maybe a bit more moderate than someone from her progressive background would normally run on.”

Renia Webb, a former Thao staffer, and Republican Mindy Pechenuk, a supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, are among those who have also announced their intention to run. Webb told the Chronicle that she intends to stay in the race and win. Pechenuk criticized Lee in an emailed statement, saying Lee “helped to destroy Oakland.” 

Reach Joe Garofoli: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com; X: @joegarofoli. Reach Sarah Ravani: sravani@sfchronicle.com; X: @SarRavani