Barbara Lee Sworn in as Oakland’s 52nd Mayor

Published on May 22, 2025

OAKLAND, CA – Today, Barbara Lee was sworn in as Oakland’s 52nd Mayor, taking her oath of office at the City Council chambers in Oakland City Hall.  Lee gave her first official remarks as Mayor in a packed room of family members, friends, elected leaders, and members of her Transition Committee and reiterated her commitment to govern in a new way with transparency, accountability, and results.  

“Today marks a new era for Oakland,” said Mayor Barbara Lee. “Like Oakland’s gifts to me, I want to re-instill hope; create opportunities for our young people; ensure a safe path for our sons and daughters to have long, productive lives, and be housed or own homes in a safe, clean City; and recommend solutions to make our City and its people economically healthy and vibrant.”

As part of Mayor Lee’s 100-day plan, her team is engaging Oaklanders from all walks of life through working groups to inform how government can better serve the people. The working groups range from good governance, public safety, public-private partnerships, large employers, small businesses, youth, arts and culture, inter-faith, and economic development. 

On the city’s budget crisis, Mayor Lee said, “As your Mayor, my job is to lead our city out of a budget crisis and into a period of financial stability. We can only do this together if we have a strong, vibrant Downtown, thriving small businesses in every Oakland neighborhood that preserve the character of our great City and contribute towards our vitality, and a City that welcomes investment.”

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee has been a public servant for over three decades, representing Oakland and other parts of the East Bay in Congress for over 27 years. Before her time in Congress, Mayor Lee served Oakland in the California State Legislature.  She was the first Black woman elected to the State Assembly, State Senate, and Congress from Northern California. A long-time Oakland resident, Mayor Lee attended Mills College and then UC Berkeley. Mayor Lee is the first Black woman to be Mayor of Oakland.

Review a copy of Mayor Lee's remarks.

View the video of her swearing in.

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