December 22, 2024
Lee posted on X that she is contemplating a run for Oakland’s mayor.
California Rep. Barbara Lee, who’s retiring from Congress early in 2025, indicated that she might be saying whether or not or not she intends to hitch the race set to find out Oakland’s subsequent mayor in January 2025.
In line with Politico, Lee posted on Twitter/X that she is contemplating a run for workplace, marking the primary time that she has publicly commented relating to the hypothesis that she might be contemplating a run for Oakland’s mayor.
“The choice to run for mayor of Oakland, a metropolis that I’ve lengthy referred to as house, isn’t one I take frivolously,” Lee mentioned. “As my time in Congress wraps up, my present precedence is navigating the disaster earlier than us in DC,” a reference to the efforts to avert a authorities shutdown.
Lee has been a progressive stalwart in Congress throughout her profession and carries the sort of political caché that will instantly make her the frontrunner in a race that’s nonetheless taking form.
Given her political positioning as a staunch progressive, Lee would upset the apple carts of extra centrist Democrats and teams with ties to Silicon Valley, who’ve been pushing to maneuver Oakland farther to the proper.
These efforts resulted within the recall of Mayor Sheng Thao in November as Oakland additionally offers with pervasive gun violence and a large funds deficit in addition to normal frustration from voters with a dysfunctional Metropolis Corridor.
A particular election to fill Thao’s seat has been scheduled for April 15, and can use Oakland’s ranked alternative voting system.
For now, Lee’s most obvious competitors is Loren Taylor, a former metropolis councilmember and a average Democrat.
Nevertheless, there are additionally rumors that former NFL working again and unofficial ambassador of the Metropolis of Oakland, Marshawn Lynch, might enter the race, though he has not made any official bulletins about his intention to hitch the race.
In line with The Oaklandside, at present, the interim mayor of Oakland is Nikki Fortuano Bas, which was finalized on Dec 17.
Bas will serve within the place for 3 weeks earlier than she takes her place on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.
On Dec. 19, a group of Lee’s supporters issued a call for her to run for mayor, citing Oakland’s want for “somebody who can restore integrity to the workplace of the Mayor, unite us in a time of division, and assist us tackle important points across the funds, public security, housing, and inequity in our City.”
In line with the letter, they consider Lee suits the invoice.
“We all know that to resolve Oakland’s issues and unlock its highly effective potential, it will take a novel mixture of braveness and confirmed expertise. Barbara Lee embodies that.”
The letter additionally alludes to the incoming administration of Donald Trump.
“Whether or not we supported the recall or opposed it, we acknowledge that the challenges going through Oakland date again many years and influence us all — particularly within the face of the brand new administration in Washington, DC.” The supporters wrote. “We additionally know it’s going to take all of us to unite our metropolis and guarantee Oakland can as soon as once more thrive. That’s the reason we’re all coming collectively — enterprise and labor, recall supporters and opponents, all of Oakland’s numerous communities — to rally behind Barbara, a seasoned, examined and confirmed chief who has a monitor document of delivering for our metropolis.”
In line with The Oaklandside, Bas, Oakland’s interim mayor, is among the many undersigned.
“There’s an extremely broad group of Oaklanders that see this second as a turning level, and see Lee because the distinctive particular person who might actually carry collectively,” town, Bas instructed the outlet.
In line with Robert Harris, an Oakland NAACP chief, and Lee’s former marketing campaign finance chair, she is a determine who can provoke town if she runs.
“You not often see such a broad spectrum of individuals coming collectively, I’m praying on daily basis that she is going to run,” Harris mentioned, including that he has no perception into Lee’s plans.
In line with the New York Occasions, Lee supported Thao, whose recall was criticized by progressives as an effort by ultra-wealthy outsiders to undermine the desire of the individuals, however the individuals in the end determined to oust Thao, regardless of town’s crime charge dropping by 33 %.
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