Former Rep. Barbara Lee wins Oakland's mayoral special election. (Getty Images)
Taylor's campaign to finish out Thao's term was aimed at shaking up the political "status quo" and restoring Oaklanders' faith in their politicians after months of uncertainty. Taylor's policy platform highlighted public safety initiatives, budget stabilization to avoid bankruptcy, anti-corruption and increased efficiency at City Hall, tackling homelessness and boosting the local economy.
CALIFORNIA CITY'S MASSIVE $130M DEFICIT THREATENS DANGEROUS CUTS TO ITS FIREFIGHTING CAPACITY
Former Oakland City Council member Loren Taylor, left, and former Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., faced off on April 15 for Oakland's special election. (Getty Images)
"Oaklanders are frustrated," Taylor told Fox News Digital in an interview ahead of the special election. "We are upset that we have not been getting what we deserve, what we should be getting from our local government. The status quo continues to fail us when we see crime rates rising out of control, we see homelessness still growing when it's shrinking in neighboring cities, we see our city facing the largest fiscal budget deficit in our history – a number of failures that show that what we have is not working."
Lee touted a long list of political endorsements during her campaign and had the name recognition that landed her a victory. She lost the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate last year to her former colleague in the House, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.
Former longtime Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., left, spoke during a demonstration in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 1, 2021, in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
"Barbara Lee is meeting voters every day in their living rooms, at their doors and at community events. She hears their priorities loud and clear - she is running to be a mayor who can make Oakland safer, address the fiscal crisis and root out corruption. That is why her 100-day plan tackles public safety, homelessness, good governance and economic opportunity head on," a spokesperson for Lee's campaign told Fox News Digital ahead of the special election.
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Lee's spokesperson reiterated Lee's endorsements, including "seven former mayors and city administrators, virtually every member of the city council as well as the city's business chamber."
Lee vowed to bring a "fresh perspective" to Oakland's City Hall, and she accused Taylor of helping "make the bad decisions that shaped the city."
Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/political-outsider-defeats-career-politician-oakland-mayoral-race-vowing-disrupt-status-quo