2025 Oakland mayoral special election

2025 Oakland mayoral special election

April 16, 2025

Incumbent Mayor TBD

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. The election will be held within 120 days of the Oakland City Council officially declaring a vacancy on December 17, 2024.^[1]

City Council president Nikki Fortunato Bas is expected to serve as interim mayor until the election is held. The filing period for mayoral candidates will begin on December 23, 2024, and end on January 17, 2025. The winner of this election will complete Thao's current term and will be up for re-election in 2026.^[2]

Candidates

Declared

• Isaac Kos-Read, lobbyist^[3]
• Mindy Pechenuk, economist^[4]
• Derrick Soo, 2022 mayoral candidate^[4]
• Loren Taylor, former Oakland City Council member, runner-up in the 2022 mayoral election^[3]

Potential

• Carroll Fife, Oakland City Councilmember representing District 3^[4]
• Barbara Lee, U.S. Representative from California's 12th district^[5] (decision expected early January)^[6]
• Marshawn Lynch, former professional football player^[7]
• Allyssa Victory, American Civil Liberties Union attorney^[3]
• Renia Webb, former chief of staff for Sheng Thao^[4]

Declined

• Janani Ramachandran, Oakland City Councilmember representing District 4^[4]

References

1. "Voters in Oakland oust Mayor Sheng Thao just 2 years into her term". AP News. November 11, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
2. "Timeline for Selecting New Mayor". City of Oakland. December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
3. Ravani, Sarah (November 13, 2024). "After Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao's recall, these candidates are lining up for the job". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
4. 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.
5. "Outgoing Congresswoman Barbara Lee floated as possible new mayor for Oakland - CBS San Francisco". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
6. Garofoli, Joe (December 20, 2024). "Barbara Lee lays out timeline for her decision on Oakland mayor's race". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
7. KTVU Staff (October 11, 2024). "Marshawn Lynch for Oakland mayor?". KTVU FOX 2. Retrieved November 14, 2024.