Former D-Calif Councilman Barbara Lee defeated former Auckland City Council member Lauren Taylor in the special election for Mayor of Auckland, following months of struggling city uncertainty.
Taylor revealed in a campaign finance report that he broke in as a relatively political outsider and outperformed the career of California politicians, but Lee ultimately won after Friday’s ranked selectable tally.
Taylor took a slight lead over Lee and then cast more than 1,000 votes, and following Auckland’s April 15 special election, the mayoral race was too close to call on Tuesday night. Auckland follows a ranked choice voting system in which candidates for the minimum voting are eliminated as voter backup options boost tally.
The liberal-run city has had four different mayors in the four months since Mayor Shen Tao was recalled this November and subsequently charged with eight counts of bribery. Auckland had no clear leadership this year. The city continues to tackle the ongoing crisis.
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Former Rep. Barbara Lee won the Oakland Mayor special election. (Getty Images)
Taylor’s campaign to end Thao’s term was intended to restore Auckland’s faith in politicians and Auckland’s faith in politicians after months of uncertainty. Taylor’s policy platform highlighted public safety initiatives, budget stabilization to avoid bankruptcy, anti-corruption at city hall, increased efficiency, tackling homelessness and a growing local economy.
California City’s massive $130 million deficit threatens dangerous cuts to firefighting capabilities
Mayoral candidate Lauren Taylor on the right arrived with his wife, Erica, before voting for the Oakland special election on April 15, 2025 at Eastmont Mall, Auckland.
In 2024, there were 5,490 homeless people in Auckland, but according to a January 2024 (PIT) report, it has increased by 9% since 2022.
The Auckland Police Department reported a decline in violent crimes in 2024, but 2025 began with a surge in crimes, including five recorded murders within 48 hours. By January 3rd, the San Francisco Chronicle had reported Oakland’s third and seventh murders since December 30th, 2024.
Auckland’s incredible $129.8 million budget deficit was forced to close the doors to Oakland fire stations earlier this year between 2024 and 2025, but the city council was able to pass a resolution earlier this year to reopen those fire stations.
Former Auckland City Council member Lauren Taylor (left) and former councillor Barbara Lee (D-Calif) faced off in the special election in Auckland on April 15th. (Getty Images)
“Auckland is frustrated,” Taylor told Fox News Digital in an interview before the special election. “We’re angry that we don’t get what we deserve, what we need to get from local governments. When crime rates get out of control, the status quo continues to fail. We see the homeless still growing as we are shrinking in our neighbouring cities.
Lee had a recognition of the name that promoted a long list of political support during the campaign and won her. She was defeated last year in the US Senate Democratic primary to Senator D-Calif, Sen. Adam Schiff, a former colleague of the family.
Former longtime Barbara Lee (D-Calif) spoke at a demonstration in Washington on December 1, 2021 in front of the US Supreme Court. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“Barbara Lee meets voters every day in her living room, in her doors and in her community events. She hears loud and clear priorities. She is becoming a mayor who can make Oakland safer, deal with financial crisis and deal with corruption. That’s why her 100-day plan has guided public safety, homeless governance and future opportunities.
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A spokesman for Lee repeated his support, including “seven former mayors and city managers, almost every member of the city council, and the city business office.”
Lee vowed to bring a “fresh perspective” to Auckland City Hall, and she accused Taylor of helping him “make the bad decisions that shaped the city.”
Deirdre Heavey is a political writer for Fox News Digital.
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