Former congresswoman Barbara Lee wins race for mayor of Oakland, California

Barbara Lee represented the city in Congress for more than two decades before retiring last year after running unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate.

SAN FRANCISCO — Progressive icon and former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee declared victory Saturday as the new mayor of troubled Oakland, a San Francisco Bay Area city reeling from economic stagnation, crime and homelessness.

Lee issued a statement Saturday as mayor-elect, saying that her chief opponent, Loren Taylor, had called to concede the April 15 race.

“While I believe strongly in respecting the democratic voting process and ballots will continue to be counted ... the results are clear that the people of Oakland have elected me as your next Mayor,” she said. “Thank you, Oakland!”

Lee, 78, is a Black female trailblazer who represented the city in Congress for over two decades before retiring last year after running unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate.

“Oakland is a deeply divided City,” she said, adding that she “answered the call to run” so the community could work together to solve its problems.