They’re calling it a “turning point” for the city of Oakland!
Former U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee has once again etched her name in history — this time as the first Black woman elected mayor of Oakland, California, according to Vanguard News Group. A trailblazer in politics and a fierce advocate for justice, her election marks a powerful shift for a city long steeped in both radical roots and resilient spirit.
Former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, herself a historic figure as the first Black woman to serve in that role, called Lee’s victory “a turning point” and “a second chance” for Oakland. In her public statement, Price didn’t mince words.
“For progressives and people with common sense across Oakland, this outcome is more than a win—it’s a second chance,” she said, noting the symbolic resonance of this moment aligning with Second Chance Month. “It’s a reminder of our power to reject hatred, racism, misogyny, and division,” Price added.
Lee’s win comes decades after Hon. Denzie Woods-Jones first ran for mayor, and it stands as a long-overdue answer to a call for representation that has echoed throughout Oakland’s neighborhoods for generations. But the road wasn’t without resistance. Price pointed to what she described as a wave of “misinformation and toxic rhetoric” that swept through the city in 2023, attempting to undermine both her and Lee’s legacies.
According to Price, this campaign of distortion was a failed effort designed to discredit Black women in power. Yet despite these tactics, Oakland voters chose truth over noise, clarity over confusion. Price also called out the double standard in how Black women in leadership are scrutinized and the unchecked vitriol by opposing political leaders. Price said Black women leaders are often expected to withstand rhetoric that wouldn’t be tolerated if directed at others. Yet through it all, she says the people of Oakland saw through the distractions and stood firmly in support of Barbara Lee.
“This is more than a political win,” Price affirmed. “The city of Oakland has chosen hope over fear, unity over division, and progress over regressions.”
Mayor Lee took to social media, thanking her constituents for the historic election and promising to hit the ground running, building bridges and uniting the city.
“I accept your choice with a deep sense of responsibility, humility, and love. Oakland is a deeply divided City, and I answered the call to run, to unite our community – so that I can represent every voter and we can all work together as One Oakland to solve our most pressing problems,” Lee captioned a post to social media.
As Mayor Lee takes office, she does so backed by decades of public service and a community that stood tall in the face of challenges. And as Price so eloquently closed, “Now, it’s time to support our new Mayor as she leads us forward — building bridges, fostering healing, and working for all who believe in a better, stronger, and more just Oakland.”
Congratulations, Mayor Lee!
Cover photo: Barbara Lee Makes History as First Black Woman to Be Elected Mayor of Oakland/Photo credit: Barbara Lee 4 Oakland/Facebook