Alameda County
Candidates Barbara Lee and Loren Taylor Raise Nearly $550,000 Combined for April 15 Mayor’s Race
According to their campaign filings, Lee has raised $293,000 and Taylor $253,000. Under campaign laws, individual contributions to candidate-controlled committees are capped at $650 per person and $1,300 for committees representing groups of people. Both candidates are receiving support from an independent expenditure committee, which can spend money to oppose or support a candidate but is not allowed to coordinate with them. These committees have no cap on what they can raise and spend.
By Post Staff
Since January, the two highest profile mayoral candidates – former Congresswoman Barbara Lee and former Oakland City Councilmember Loren Taylor – have raised nearly $550,000 combined for the April 15 special election.
According to their campaign filings, Lee has raised $293,000 and Taylor $253,000.
Under campaign laws, individual contributions to candidate-controlled committees are capped at $650 per person and $1,300 for committees representing groups of people.
Both candidates are receiving support from an independent expenditure committee, which can spend money to oppose or support a candidate but is not allowed to coordinate with them. These committees have no cap on what they can raise and spend.
Among Lee’s more well-known backers are:
- Seth Olyer, president of Oakland’s fire union
- The Alameda Labor Council PAC
- IFPTE Local 21
- IBEW Local 595
- Oakland Education Association PAC
- SEIU Local 1021
- Civil rights lawyer John Burris
- William Crotinger, president of Argent Materials
- Former Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris
- Acts Full Gospel Church Bishop Bob Jackson
- Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown
Two independent expenditure committees are backing Lee. “Citizens For A Brighter Oakland Future” has raised $25,225, mostly from Raymond Gallagher, founder of Scott’s Seafood Grill and Bar.
The other committee, “Supporters of Barbara Lee for Oakland Mayor 2025, A Coalition Of Business, Labor and Public Safety Organizations for a Better Oakland,” has raised over $168,000. Contributors mostly include unions, such as SEIU Local 1021 and IFPTE Local 21, which represent city workers. Other funds come from the billboard company Foster Interstate Media and PG&E.
Taylor’s prominent backers:
- Former Alameda County judge Brenda Harbin-Forte, who led the campaign to recall Mayor Sheng Thao last year and lost her race to become city attorney
- Former Alameda County DA Nancy O’Malley
- Alexandria Medina, executive director of the Oakland Public Education Fund
- Landlord and activist Chris Moore, who ran unsuccessfully last year for a position on the county board of supervisors
- Jackie Ray, director of government affairs at Clorox
- Former state senator Joe Simitian
- John Wayland, developer with Holland Partner Group
- Sachin Agarwal, the director of GrowSF.
- Ryan Graciano, co-founder of Credit Karma
Two independent expenditure committees are supporting Taylor. “Oakland Neighbors, Businesses & Public Safety Advocates for Loren Taylor for Mayor and against Barbara Lee.” Though this this committee has not filed a list of contributions and expenditures for 2025, it has reported three big contributions, $25,000 from real estate developer Ronald Nahas; $10,000 from Charles Freiburg, co-founder of the Life Insurance Consumer Advocacy Center; and $1,000 from Derek Benham, owner of a wine company.
