Oakland’s West and flatlands neighborhoods overcame the power of big-money in the city’s Mayoral race as former Congresswoman Barbara Lee defeated former Oakland City Councilman Loren Taylor in the April 15th special election to appoint a mayor to finish the remainder of Sheng Thao’s term, a definitive update of counted votes confirms.
Taylor was backed by a web of Astroturf groups linked to wealthy individuals and corporations. The Alameda County Registrar’s precinct map shows that Lee carried most of the flatlands and low foothill areas, many of which are still predominantly Black, Brown, working class and working poor. Taylor did well in upper hills areas synonymous in Oakland for generations with wealth, whiteness and conservative viewpoints.