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Barbara Lee photo
Non-Partisan

Barbara Lee

Website Endorsements

Elect Barbara Lee to put Oakland on the right track for progress. 



Barbara Lee’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of Oakland and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Lee has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including the Oakland Education Association, Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, and Alameda Labor Council AFL-CIO. She has also received the endorsement of local and state leaders, including Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins, former Gov. Jerry Brown, State Sen. Jesse Arreguin, Asm. Mia Bonta, and Rep. Lateefah Simon. 

Electoral history: Lee served nearly 30 years in Congress, first winning election in 1998 to represent a district that included Oakland.  She won her final reelection in 2022 after earning over 90% of the vote. In 2024, Lee ran in the open primary to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein as California’s senator but did not advance out of the primary after earning just 11% of the vote. 

Top issues: Public safety, effective solutions to homelessness and housing, and government ethics and accountability.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Lee had a long career in politics before winning her congressional seat, including working on the historic presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm. As a young social worker, she founded a mental health service organization, Community Health Alliance for Neighborhood Growth and Education, to benefit her local East Bay community. She then spent eleven years working on the staff of Congressmember Ron Dellums, eventually serving as his chief of staff. After her tenure in congressional staffing, she founded a facilities management company. In 1990, Rep. Lee launched a successful bid for a seat in the California Assembly, where she served for six years before she was elected to the state Senate. In 1998, she won a special election to represent CD-09 in the U.S. House. In her 26-year tenure in Congress, Rep. Lee was an outspoken progressive leader across various issues, including ending poverty, and has been a prolific author of legislation related to ending AIDS/HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. She was the only member of Congress to vote against the authorization for the use of military force after the attacks on September 11, 2001, a controversial position at the time. 

Other background: Lee is from El Paso, TX, and moved to the San Fernando Valley as a teenager. She attended Mills College and has lived in the Bay Area her entire adult life.

 

The Race


Special election: In November 2024, Mayor Sheng Thao was recalled after a campaign backed by conservative groups. There have since been two interim mayors, including the current Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins. The winner of this April 15 special election will fill the remainder of Thao’s original term through 2027. Ten candidates are running for this seat, including Barbara Lee, Tyron Jordan, Peter Liu, President Cristina Grappo, Mindy Pechenuk, Suz Robinson, Eric Simpson, Elizabeth Swaney, Loren Taylor, and Renia Webb. This is a ranked choice voting, instant run-off election.

None of the candidates in this election have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of February 2025.

 

The District


City: Oakland is Alameda County’s most populous city. Oakland’s mayor and city council oversee the needs of 435,000 people and manage an estimated operating budget of $1.7 billion annually.

District demographics: As of the 2020 Census, Oakland had a demographic breakdown of 25% Latino, 16% Asian, and 21% Black. 

Recent election results: Alameda County, which includes Oakland, voted for Kamala Harris for president in 2024 by 54 points and for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 58 points.

 

The Position


Oakland is governed by a city council of eight elected representatives. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. These bodies are often augmented by two additional seats held by a mayor and a vice mayor. Oakland uses the mayor-council government structure. The mayor is elected at large and acts as chair of the city council and the city’s chief executive officer. The Oakland mayor does not hold any special legislative power. In Oakland, the mayor is elected to a four-year term, with a limit of two terms. 
 

Elect Barbara Lee to put Oakland on the right track for progress. 



Barbara Lee’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of Oakland and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Lee has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including the Oakland Education Association, Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, and Alameda Labor Council AFL-CIO. She has also received the endorsement of local and state leaders, including Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins, former Gov. Jerry Brown, State Sen. Jesse Arreguin, Asm. Mia Bonta, and Rep. Lateefah Simon. 

Electoral history: Lee served nearly 30 years in Congress, first winning election in 1998 to represent a district that included Oakland.  She won her final reelection in 2022 after earning over 90% of the vote. In 2024, Lee ran in the open primary to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein as California’s senator but did not advance out of the primary after earning just 11% of the vote. 

Top issues: Public safety, effective solutions to homelessness and housing, and government ethics and accountability.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Lee had a long career in politics before winning her congressional seat, including working on the historic presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm. As a young social worker, she founded a mental health service organization, Community Health Alliance for Neighborhood Growth and Education, to benefit her local East Bay community. She then spent eleven years working on the staff of Congressmember Ron Dellums, eventually serving as his chief of staff. After her tenure in congressional staffing, she founded a facilities management company. In 1990, Rep. Lee launched a successful bid for a seat in the California Assembly, where she served for six years before she was elected to the state Senate. In 1998, she won a special election to represent CD-09 in the U.S. House. In her 26-year tenure in Congress, Rep. Lee was an outspoken progressive leader across various issues, including ending poverty, and has been a prolific author of legislation related to ending AIDS/HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. She was the only member of Congress to vote against the authorization for the use of military force after the attacks on September 11, 2001, a controversial position at the time. 

Other background: Lee is from El Paso, TX, and moved to the San Fernando Valley as a teenager. She attended Mills College and has lived in the Bay Area her entire adult life.

 

The Race


Special election: In November 2024, Mayor Sheng Thao was recalled after a campaign backed by conservative groups. There have since been two interim mayors, including the current Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins. The winner of this April 15 special election will fill the remainder of Thao’s original term through 2027. Ten candidates are running for this seat, including Barbara Lee, Tyron Jordan, Peter Liu, President Cristina Grappo, Mindy Pechenuk, Suz Robinson, Eric Simpson, Elizabeth Swaney, Loren Taylor, and Renia Webb. This is a ranked choice voting, instant run-off election.

None of the candidates in this election have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of February 2025.

 

The District


City: Oakland is Alameda County’s most populous city. Oakland’s mayor and city council oversee the needs of 435,000 people and manage an estimated operating budget of $1.7 billion annually.

District demographics: As of the 2020 Census, Oakland had a demographic breakdown of 25% Latino, 16% Asian, and 21% Black. 

Recent election results: Alameda County, which includes Oakland, voted for Kamala Harris for president in 2024 by 54 points and for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 58 points.

 

The Position


Oakland is governed by a city council of eight elected representatives. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. These bodies are often augmented by two additional seats held by a mayor and a vice mayor. Oakland uses the mayor-council government structure. The mayor is elected at large and acts as chair of the city council and the city’s chief executive officer. The Oakland mayor does not hold any special legislative power. In Oakland, the mayor is elected to a four-year term, with a limit of two terms. 
 

City of Oakland

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April 15th in Oakland
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Oakland Ballot Measures

Measure A

VOTE YES

Vote YES on Measure A to increase general revenue to support the city’s budget for basic public services.

In December 2024, the Oakland City Council unanimously voted to send a sales tax increase to the voters in the April 2025 special election cycle. The proposed increase would raise Oakland’s sales tax by .5%, from 10.25% to 10.75%, bringing it level with other nearby Alameda County communities, like Union City, San Leandro, Albany, Hayward, and Alameda. The increase is intended to bring in an additional $20 million to $30 million annually, and is designed to help plug a significant budget shortfall that threatens to upend the delivery of local public services in the coming years. If approved by a 50%+1 vote, the sales tax increase would be instituted for 10 years, after which it would revert to the 10.25% level if not renewed by voters. 

 

Why voting YES on Measure A matters:


- Oakland’s budget shortfall could be as high as $265 million in the two-year cycle that begins in July 2025, and efforts to balance the budget are likely to result in cuts to the General Purpose Funds that account for 38% of the overall city budget and are used to fund free public services, like police and fire. Voting YES on Measure A will support the continued staffing and delivery of these services to provide ongoing public safety for Oakland. 
- As the City Council works to balance the budget for the 2025–2027 fiscal cycle, the alternative to this half-percent increase in sales tax is likely to be mass layoffs that will have a detrimental effect on the local economy. Voting YES on Measure A will provide an economic solution to the current budget crisis and maintain funding for positions filled by dedicated neighbors across the city. 
- In a recent city survey, residents indicated concern about Oakland’s ongoing housing and homelessness crisis, which would be one of the critical areas addressed by the increased tax revenue. Voting YES on Measure A will support continued efforts to expand services and housing development for unhoused neighbors. 
- To date, Oakland’s tax revenue has not kept pace with the expense of running the city’s government and providing high-quality resources and services to residents. Voting YES on Measure A will increase the city’s tax contribution to provide for this critical local infrastructure. 

 

Top supporters of Measure A:


- Measure A has the backing of most local unions, which are working to protect the city-funded positions of their members. An independent expenditure committee has raised $187,000 in support of Measure A, and is led by the fire union Vice President Seth Olyer, who has been outspoken about the danger of further cuts to the fire budget amid California’s ongoing wildfire crisis. 
- The April special election will also include a race for the vacant mayoral seat, and at least two of the candidates—Loren Taylor and Barbara Lee—have expressed support for Measure A. 
- Measure A received unanimous approval from the 8-member City Council in December, which views it as a clear and reasonable way to increase city revenue for the upcoming budget cycle. 

 

Top opposition to Measure A:


- There has been little organized opposition to Measure A, although a recent city survey of budget priorities indicated that 44% of Oaklanders are opposed to the sales tax increase, and another 25% are undecided about the measure. The survey indicated that a record number of Oakland residents are frustrated with the city’s government, and that many are anxious about safety and concerned about homelessness. Many respondents indicated their commitment to the sensible funding of city services, like police, fire, infrastructure services, and small businesses. 

 

Misinformation about Measure A includes:


- To date, there has not been any significant misinformation about Measure A. 
 

In December 2024, the Oakland City Council unanimously voted to send a sales tax increase to the voters in the April 2025 special election cycle. The proposed increase would raise Oakland’s sales tax by .5%, from 10.25% to 10.75%, bringing it level with other nearby Alameda County communities, like Union City, San Leandro, Albany, Hayward, and Alameda. The increase is intended to bring in an additional $20 million to $30 million annually, and is designed to help plug a significant budget shortfall that threatens to upend the delivery of local public services in the coming years. If approved by a 50%+1 vote, the sales tax increase would be instituted for 10 years, after which it would revert to the 10.25% level if not renewed by voters. 

 

Why voting YES on Measure A matters:


- Oakland’s budget shortfall could be as high as $265 million in the two-year cycle that begins in July 2025, and efforts to balance the budget are likely to result in cuts to the General Purpose Funds that account for 38% of the overall city budget and are used to fund free public services, like police and fire. Voting YES on Measure A will support the continued staffing and delivery of these services to provide ongoing public safety for Oakland. 
- As the City Council works to balance the budget for the 2025–2027 fiscal cycle, the alternative to this half-percent increase in sales tax is likely to be mass layoffs that will have a detrimental effect on the local economy. Voting YES on Measure A will provide an economic solution to the current budget crisis and maintain funding for positions filled by dedicated neighbors across the city. 
- In a recent city survey, residents indicated concern about Oakland’s ongoing housing and homelessness crisis, which would be one of the critical areas addressed by the increased tax revenue. Voting YES on Measure A will support continued efforts to expand services and housing development for unhoused neighbors. 
- To date, Oakland’s tax revenue has not kept pace with the expense of running the city’s government and providing high-quality resources and services to residents. Voting YES on Measure A will increase the city’s tax contribution to provide for this critical local infrastructure. 

 

Top supporters of Measure A:


- Measure A has the backing of most local unions, which are working to protect the city-funded positions of their members. An independent expenditure committee has raised $187,000 in support of Measure A, and is led by the fire union Vice President Seth Olyer, who has been outspoken about the danger of further cuts to the fire budget amid California’s ongoing wildfire crisis. 
- The April special election will also include a race for the vacant mayoral seat, and at least two of the candidates—Loren Taylor and Barbara Lee—have expressed support for Measure A. 
- Measure A received unanimous approval from the 8-member City Council in December, which views it as a clear and reasonable way to increase city revenue for the upcoming budget cycle. 

 

Top opposition to Measure A:


- There has been little organized opposition to Measure A, although a recent city survey of budget priorities indicated that 44% of Oaklanders are opposed to the sales tax increase, and another 25% are undecided about the measure. The survey indicated that a record number of Oakland residents are frustrated with the city’s government, and that many are anxious about safety and concerned about homelessness. Many respondents indicated their commitment to the sensible funding of city services, like police, fire, infrastructure services, and small businesses. 

 

Misinformation about Measure A includes:


- To date, there has not been any significant misinformation about Measure A. 
 

City of Oakland

Oakland Mayor

1st 1st Choice
Barbara Lee photo
Non-Partisan

Barbara Lee

Website Endorsements

Elect Barbara Lee to put Oakland on the right track for progress. 



Barbara Lee’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of Oakland and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Lee has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including the Oakland Education Association, Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, and Alameda Labor Council AFL-CIO. She has also received the endorsement of local and state leaders, including Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins, former Gov. Jerry Brown, State Sen. Jesse Arreguin, Asm. Mia Bonta, and Rep. Lateefah Simon. 

Electoral history: Lee served nearly 30 years in Congress, first winning election in 1998 to represent a district that included Oakland.  She won her final reelection in 2022 after earning over 90% of the vote. In 2024, Lee ran in the open primary to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein as California’s senator but did not advance out of the primary after earning just 11% of the vote. 

Top issues: Public safety, effective solutions to homelessness and housing, and government ethics and accountability.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Lee had a long career in politics before winning her congressional seat, including working on the historic presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm. As a young social worker, she founded a mental health service organization, Community Health Alliance for Neighborhood Growth and Education, to benefit her local East Bay community. She then spent eleven years working on the staff of Congressmember Ron Dellums, eventually serving as his chief of staff. After her tenure in congressional staffing, she founded a facilities management company. In 1990, Rep. Lee launched a successful bid for a seat in the California Assembly, where she served for six years before she was elected to the state Senate. In 1998, she won a special election to represent CD-09 in the U.S. House. In her 26-year tenure in Congress, Rep. Lee was an outspoken progressive leader across various issues, including ending poverty, and has been a prolific author of legislation related to ending AIDS/HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. She was the only member of Congress to vote against the authorization for the use of military force after the attacks on September 11, 2001, a controversial position at the time. 

Other background: Lee is from El Paso, TX, and moved to the San Fernando Valley as a teenager. She attended Mills College and has lived in the Bay Area her entire adult life.

 

The Race


Special election: In November 2024, Mayor Sheng Thao was recalled after a campaign backed by conservative groups. There have since been two interim mayors, including the current Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins. The winner of this April 15 special election will fill the remainder of Thao’s original term through 2027. Ten candidates are running for this seat, including Barbara Lee, Tyron Jordan, Peter Liu, President Cristina Grappo, Mindy Pechenuk, Suz Robinson, Eric Simpson, Elizabeth Swaney, Loren Taylor, and Renia Webb. This is a ranked choice voting, instant run-off election.

None of the candidates in this election have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of February 2025.

 

The District


City: Oakland is Alameda County’s most populous city. Oakland’s mayor and city council oversee the needs of 435,000 people and manage an estimated operating budget of $1.7 billion annually.

District demographics: As of the 2020 Census, Oakland had a demographic breakdown of 25% Latino, 16% Asian, and 21% Black. 

Recent election results: Alameda County, which includes Oakland, voted for Kamala Harris for president in 2024 by 54 points and for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 58 points.

 

The Position


Oakland is governed by a city council of eight elected representatives. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. These bodies are often augmented by two additional seats held by a mayor and a vice mayor. Oakland uses the mayor-council government structure. The mayor is elected at large and acts as chair of the city council and the city’s chief executive officer. The Oakland mayor does not hold any special legislative power. In Oakland, the mayor is elected to a four-year term, with a limit of two terms. 
 

Elect Barbara Lee to put Oakland on the right track for progress. 



Barbara Lee’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of Oakland and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Lee has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including the Oakland Education Association, Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, and Alameda Labor Council AFL-CIO. She has also received the endorsement of local and state leaders, including Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins, former Gov. Jerry Brown, State Sen. Jesse Arreguin, Asm. Mia Bonta, and Rep. Lateefah Simon. 

Electoral history: Lee served nearly 30 years in Congress, first winning election in 1998 to represent a district that included Oakland.  She won her final reelection in 2022 after earning over 90% of the vote. In 2024, Lee ran in the open primary to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein as California’s senator but did not advance out of the primary after earning just 11% of the vote. 

Top issues: Public safety, effective solutions to homelessness and housing, and government ethics and accountability.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Lee had a long career in politics before winning her congressional seat, including working on the historic presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm. As a young social worker, she founded a mental health service organization, Community Health Alliance for Neighborhood Growth and Education, to benefit her local East Bay community. She then spent eleven years working on the staff of Congressmember Ron Dellums, eventually serving as his chief of staff. After her tenure in congressional staffing, she founded a facilities management company. In 1990, Rep. Lee launched a successful bid for a seat in the California Assembly, where she served for six years before she was elected to the state Senate. In 1998, she won a special election to represent CD-09 in the U.S. House. In her 26-year tenure in Congress, Rep. Lee was an outspoken progressive leader across various issues, including ending poverty, and has been a prolific author of legislation related to ending AIDS/HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. She was the only member of Congress to vote against the authorization for the use of military force after the attacks on September 11, 2001, a controversial position at the time. 

Other background: Lee is from El Paso, TX, and moved to the San Fernando Valley as a teenager. She attended Mills College and has lived in the Bay Area her entire adult life.

 

The Race


Special election: In November 2024, Mayor Sheng Thao was recalled after a campaign backed by conservative groups. There have since been two interim mayors, including the current Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins. The winner of this April 15 special election will fill the remainder of Thao’s original term through 2027. Ten candidates are running for this seat, including Barbara Lee, Tyron Jordan, Peter Liu, President Cristina Grappo, Mindy Pechenuk, Suz Robinson, Eric Simpson, Elizabeth Swaney, Loren Taylor, and Renia Webb. This is a ranked choice voting, instant run-off election.

None of the candidates in this election have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of February 2025.

 

The District


City: Oakland is Alameda County’s most populous city. Oakland’s mayor and city council oversee the needs of 435,000 people and manage an estimated operating budget of $1.7 billion annually.

District demographics: As of the 2020 Census, Oakland had a demographic breakdown of 25% Latino, 16% Asian, and 21% Black. 

Recent election results: Alameda County, which includes Oakland, voted for Kamala Harris for president in 2024 by 54 points and for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 58 points.

 

The Position


Oakland is governed by a city council of eight elected representatives. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. These bodies are often augmented by two additional seats held by a mayor and a vice mayor. Oakland uses the mayor-council government structure. The mayor is elected at large and acts as chair of the city council and the city’s chief executive officer. The Oakland mayor does not hold any special legislative power. In Oakland, the mayor is elected to a four-year term, with a limit of two terms. 
 

City of Oakland, District 2

Depending on where you live, you may have the below city district races on your ballot.

Oakland City Council, District 2

1st 1st Choice
Kara Murray-Badal photo
Non-Partisan

Kara Murray-Badal

Website Endorsements

Elect Kara Murray-Badal for City Council to put Oakland on the right track for progress. 



Kara Murray-Badal’s policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of City Council District 2 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Murray-Badal has the endorsement of many groups, including California Working Families Party, Oakland Rising Action, Alameda Labor Council AFL-CIO, Oakland Tenants Union, and ACCE Action. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including former District 2 Councilmember and current Alameda County Sup. Nikki Fortunato Bas, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins. 

Electoral history: Murray-Badal has not run for public office before.

Top issues: Health and safety, housing and tenant protections, and climate resilience and sustainability.

Governance and community leadership experience: Murray-Badal is director of the Housing Venture Lab at Terner Labs, a local development nonprofit, which she does to support her community’s ongoing housing challenges. She has worked on initiatives to increase mixed-income housing availability and leverage Medicaid to subsidize housing for unhoused people. Prior to this role, she worked in several project management and nonprofit leadership positions, including with Bayer Healthcare and the Mosaic Project. A hallmark of Murray-Badal’s career has been pursuing equity, bridging communication across stakeholders, and creating sustainable community solutions.
Other background: Murray-Badal was born and raised in Oakland and is a longtime resident of District 2. She holds degrees from Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University. 

 

The Race


Special election: This seat was held by former Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas until January 2025, when she was sworn in as a member of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. The winner of this April 15 special election will fill the remainder of her term through 2026. There are six candidates running in the nonpartisan April 15 special election, including Kara Murray-Badal, Kenneth Anderson, Harold Lowe, Kanitha Matoury, Paula Thomas, and Charlene Wang. This is a ranked choice voting, instant run-off election.

None of the candidates in this election have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city of Oakland as of March 2025. 

 

The District


City: Oakland is Alameda County’s most populous city. Oakland’s City Council District 2 includes Eastlake, Grand Lake, San Antonio, and Chinatown.

Governance structure: Oakland’s City Council oversees the needs of 440,000 people and manages an estimated operating budget of $2.14 million annually. Oakland is managed by a mayor-council government structure.

 

The Position


Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a city council, which in Oakland includes 7 districted seats and 1 at-large seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City council members in Oakland serve four-year terms and are not subject to term ‎limits.
 

Elect Kara Murray-Badal for City Council to put Oakland on the right track for progress. 



Kara Murray-Badal’s policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of City Council District 2 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Murray-Badal has the endorsement of many groups, including California Working Families Party, Oakland Rising Action, Alameda Labor Council AFL-CIO, Oakland Tenants Union, and ACCE Action. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including former District 2 Councilmember and current Alameda County Sup. Nikki Fortunato Bas, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins. 

Electoral history: Murray-Badal has not run for public office before.

Top issues: Health and safety, housing and tenant protections, and climate resilience and sustainability.

Governance and community leadership experience: Murray-Badal is director of the Housing Venture Lab at Terner Labs, a local development nonprofit, which she does to support her community’s ongoing housing challenges. She has worked on initiatives to increase mixed-income housing availability and leverage Medicaid to subsidize housing for unhoused people. Prior to this role, she worked in several project management and nonprofit leadership positions, including with Bayer Healthcare and the Mosaic Project. A hallmark of Murray-Badal’s career has been pursuing equity, bridging communication across stakeholders, and creating sustainable community solutions.
Other background: Murray-Badal was born and raised in Oakland and is a longtime resident of District 2. She holds degrees from Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University. 

 

The Race


Special election: This seat was held by former Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas until January 2025, when she was sworn in as a member of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. The winner of this April 15 special election will fill the remainder of her term through 2026. There are six candidates running in the nonpartisan April 15 special election, including Kara Murray-Badal, Kenneth Anderson, Harold Lowe, Kanitha Matoury, Paula Thomas, and Charlene Wang. This is a ranked choice voting, instant run-off election.

None of the candidates in this election have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city of Oakland as of March 2025. 

 

The District


City: Oakland is Alameda County’s most populous city. Oakland’s City Council District 2 includes Eastlake, Grand Lake, San Antonio, and Chinatown.

Governance structure: Oakland’s City Council oversees the needs of 440,000 people and manages an estimated operating budget of $2.14 million annually. Oakland is managed by a mayor-council government structure.

 

The Position


Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a city council, which in Oakland includes 7 districted seats and 1 at-large seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City council members in Oakland serve four-year terms and are not subject to term ‎limits.