Special election preview: The 10 candidates running to become next mayor of Oakland

THERE ARE 10 CANDIDATES on the ballot for Oakland’s April 15 special mayoral election to replace Sheng Thao, who lost a recall election and is now the subject of a federal corruption trial.

The candidates are former Oakland City Council member Loren Taylor, former U.S. Representative Barbara Lee, perennial local candidates Mindy Pechenuk and Peter Liu, former Olympian/comedian and barista Elizabeth Swaney, former Thao advisor Renia Webb, Bay Area Council vice president Suz Robinson, a woman named President Christina Grappo — who describes herself as a “provider” on her official ballot designation, paralegal Tyron Jordan and union factory worker Eric Simpson.

All candidates were given several weeks to return a candidate questionnaire, except for Simpson, for whom contact information couldn’t be found. Taylor, Lee, Liu and Pechenuk submitted answers, Webb declined to participate, and Jordan suspended his campaign to support Lee. The other candidates didn’t send in responses.



https://localnewsmatters.org/2025/04/08/special-election-preview-the-10-candidates-running-to-become-next-mayor-of-oakland/