Mayor Barbara Lee was elected in a historic special election held on April 15, 2025, becoming the first Black woman to lead Oakland.

Barbara Lee brings nearly 35 years of public service experience and deep roots in the community to City Hall. From overcoming personal adversity – surviving domestic violence, navigating public assistance, and raising her two sons while earning degrees from Mills College and UC Berkeley to becoming an award-winning leader, she combines personal tenacity with unwavering dedication to Oakland.

Before her election as Mayor, Barbara represented Oakland in the California Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly three decades. During her tenure in Congress, she secured billions in funding for Oakland, supporting community safety programs, local police and fire services, safer and greener streets, small businesses, affordable housing, and the expansion of the environmentally friendly Port of Oakland.

Barbara is a social worker by training and a community organizer at heart. As a graduate student, she founded CHANGE, a mental health clinic serving underserved neighborhoods. She also built a career as a small business owner. Her lived experience fuels her focus on equity, transparency, and results-driven leadership.

Mayor Lee is leading the City of Oakland with a focus on addressing homelessness in partnership with the County and community-based organizations, strengthening public safety through prevention, accountability, and services, reforming City Hall to operate more efficiently and transparently, and ensuring that core City services are delivered reliably for all Oaklanders.