2025 Oakland Voter Guide: Candidates, Elections & Voting Info
Oakland Rising Action’s 2025 Oakland Special Election Voter Guide is here! Oakland has an election this April, and we’re excited to endorse candidates who align with our values and will shape Oakland’s future. This is our chance to elect progressive leaders who prioritize affordable housing, public safety, and community reinvestment.
Oakland Rising Action endorses leaders who stand with BIPOC, workers, tenants, immigrants, and working-class families in Oakland’s flatlands. These candidates have a proven track record of working with the community. They also show a strong commitment to reimagining local government for everyone.
Voting is powerful. Corporate-backed billionaires shouldn’t control our elections. Instead, our Oakland voter guide will help you vote for candidates who support solutions that matter. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, April 15th and help build a future of health, safety, and opportunity!
Candidate Endorsements in Oakland's April 2025 Special Election
BARBARA LEE
CITY OF OAKLAND, MAYOR
CITY OF OAKLAND, MAYOR
Barbara Lee has served as a progressive voice in Congress for over 26 years. She overcame segregation and economic hardship to become a leader in racial and economic justice. Before Congress, she worked as a social worker and activist with the Black Panther Party’s community programs. She later served in the California State Assembly and Senate, where she fought for healthcare, education, and affordable housing. A founding member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Lee has consistently championed peace, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ rights. She has earned numerous awards for her leadership and remains committed to justice and equality.
KARA MURRAY-BADAL
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 2
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 2
Kara Murray-Badal, an Oakland native, leads the Housing Venture Lab at Terner Labs. She is a strong advocate for equitable housing and sustainable communities. Her career spans both private and nonprofit sectors, including roles at Bayer Healthcare and The Mosaic Project. Kara has worked in policy consulting and electoral campaigns, always pushing for progressive change. She holds an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, an MBA from Wharton, and a BA in Psychology from Stanford. Running for Oakland City Council District 2, she brings a clear vision for safe, affordable housing and vibrant communities.
Oakland Ballot Measure Endorsements – Oakland's April 2025 Special Election - Coming Soon!
Statewide Ballot Measures
Funds $10B for school repairs, modernizations, and safety improvements for public school and community college students, who are disproportionately low-income and BIPOC.
Fund Our Schools and Community Colleges
Our Oakland Voter Guide Highlights Endorsements Driven by Grassroots Leaders & Our Values
Our endorsement process is led by working-class, immigrant, and BIPOC leaders. Flatlands voters and longtime Oakland residents help shape our decisions. We identify candidates who align with our values, then mobilize disenfranchised communities to vote. Check out our past endorsements here.
We aim to shift power and make Oakland a city that champions equity. Our focus is on residents most impacted by racism, poverty, policing, and mass incarceration.
Oakland Rising Action is a Working Families Party (WFP) member, fighting for workers over bosses and people over the powerful.
CA WFP endorses federal, state, and local candidates who stand for progressive values. Together, we are transforming California into a state that prioritizes working people and the most vulnerable communities.
Visit WorkingFamilies.org/Candidates to learn more. Interested in becoming a member of WFP? Click here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – 2025 Oakland Special Election – Oakland Voter Guide
When is the 2025 Oakland Special Election?
The Oakland Special Election is on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Make sure to check your voter registration and mark your calendar to cast your vote before polls close that day!
What is on the ballot for the Oakland Special Election in 2025?
The election will include local candidate races, including Barbara Lee for Mayor and Kara Murray-Badal for City Council (District 2), as well as important Oakland ballot measures (coming soon in our Oakland voter guide).
Where can I vote in the Oakland Special Election?
You can vote by mail, drop off your ballot at an official ballot box, or vote in person at designated polling places across Oakland. Find your polling place on the Alameda County Registrar of Voters website.
How do I vote by mail?
All registered voters in Oakland will receive a mail-in ballot before the election. You can return it by mail (postmarked by April 15), at an official drop box, or in person at a polling location.
How do I register to vote or update my registration?
You can register or update your voter registration at registertovote.ca.gov by March 31, 2025. After that, you can still register and vote using Same-Day Voter Registration at polling places on Election Day.
Why is there a special election in Oakland?
The special election is being held to fill vacancies in key local offices and decide important Oakland ballot measures.
Where can I learn more?
Stay updated by signing up for email updates from Oakland Rising Action. Learn about new endorsements and updates to our Oakland voter guide, ballot measure details, community events, and voter resources!
Notice to Voters
Ad paid for by Oakland Rising Committee Sponsored by Center for Empowered Politics, FPPC ID# 1332115 570 7th St Suite 3, Oakland, CA 94612
Committee major funding from:
Smart Justice California Action Fund
Quinn Delaney
Progressive ERA PAC
in the amount of $60,000. Total cost of this communication is [____].
This advertisement was not authorized by a candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate or election official. Funding details are available on the Oakland Public Ethics Commission website.