Former East Bay Congresswoman Barbara Lee has filed paperwork to run for Oakland mayor.
A 2025 campaign finance filing for Lee was posted on the California Secretary of State website.
When contacted Monday, a spokesperson would only say that Lee plans to make a public announcement about running soon.
So far, in addition to Lee, 13 people have filed papers signaling a potential run for Oakland mayor, according to a list posted on the city's website last Friday. The nomination period closes on Jan. 17.
The new mayor will be selected in a special April 15 election to replace the ousted Sheng Thao, who was recalled as mayor in the November election.
City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas was most recently serving as Oakland's acting mayor.
Lee spent 26 years in Congress, seven years in the California legislature and 11 years working for the late Congressman Ron Dellums. Lee ran for one of California’s Senate seat but lost in the primaries last year.
The city of Oakland is facing a number of issues including a roughly $130 million budget deficit. But Oakland councilmember Carroll Fife believes Lee could help the city move forward.
“She has the administrative experience and executive chops to be successful in helping navigate the city of Oakland in these challenging budgetary experiences we’re having right now,” she said.
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Oakland business owner Justin Ford said he believes Lee could bring people together and top of mind for him is the housing crisis and public safety.
“As a business owner, business security Oakland has a lot of businesses on the brink, Oakland is obviously dealing with a lot of break ins, as a business owner, trying to find a solution so we can operate safely is high on my list,” he said.
NBC Bay Area Political Analyst Larry Gerston said Lee has spent a lot of time in Washington, something the opposition could try to use against her but with her time there, she knows how to get things done.
“In terms of getting federal aid, she probably will have a better chance of getting that federal aid, especially with folks like Adam Schiff in the Senate than somebody else,” he said.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
