
Barbara Lee
Incumbent Democratic candidate for Mayor in California
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Live Odds — Oakland Mayor winner?
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
93%chance to win
Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleMayor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age80 years old (Jul 16, 1946)
GenderFemale
Show moreShow less
LocationCalifornia
BackgroundPolitician
EducationMills College (B.A., 1973)
Notable personal detailsBarbara Jean Lee is an American politician who has served as the 52nd mayor of Oakland since 2025. She previously represented Oakland and surrounding East Bay communities in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1998 to 2025, serving under multiple district numbers due to redistricting. She earned a B.A. from Mills College and an M.S.W. from the University of California, Berkeley.
SourcesShowHide
Political Positions
Economy & Taxes
Barbara Lee emphasizes fiscal discipline, budget balance, and restoring city services while also supporting local economic growth, good-paying jobs, and small-business activity. Her administration has backed a measure to provide business tax exemptions for certain small and new businesses, while also proposing voter-approved parcel tax revenue for public safety and cleanup services.
Healthcare
Barbara Lee supports Medicare for All and single-payer healthcare. She has also said healthcare should be a human right and has defended expanding and strengthening the Affordable Care Act while pushing for a universal, affordable system.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
Barbara Lee has backed sanctuary-city protections in Oakland, including limits on city cooperation with ICE and steps to shield residents from immigration enforcement surges. Her public statements emphasize protecting immigrant communities, due process, and opposition to using local resources for federal immigration enforcement.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Barbara Lee has consistently supported abortion access and reproductive rights, including opposing state abortion bans and calling for Congress to enshrine the right to access abortion into federal law. She has identified reproductive rights as human rights and has been described as a reproductive justice champion and co-chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus.
Climate & Energy
Barbara Lee supports aggressive climate action, including the Green New Deal, a 100% renewable energy system, and stronger federal action against fossil fuel expansion. She has also backed climate education and legislation targeting polluters, offshore drilling, and new federal fossil fuel infrastructure permits.
Public Safety & Guns
Barbara Lee has supported expanding background checks and has framed gun violence as a public health issue. Her congressional record also reflects support for stronger federal firearms laws, mental health measures, and making gun trafficking a federal crime.
Campaign Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Campaign finance totals from the latest available reporting period.
2024
2026
LatestCycle 2024
Cycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- News
- Polls
- Endorsements