With additional vote totals released last week, Rowena Brown has won the Oakland City Council at-large seat. The victory means that Oakland will continue to have two out council members, as Brown is a queer woman and will join Janani Ramachandran, a queer woman who represents District 4.
Meanwhile, in the open District 5 seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, gay Emeryville City Councilmember John Bauters has seen his early lead vanish and now trails Oakland City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas. The seat became open with longtime Supervisor Keith Carson opting not to seek reelection.
The Alameda County Registrar of Voters office stated that additional returns will be released Wednesday, though there are only about 17,000 ballots countywide remaining to be tallied.
In the Oakland at-large race, after nine rounds of ranked choice voting results, Brown won with 56.82%. LeRonne Armstrong, the former Oakland police chief whom Mayor Sheng Thao fired in 2023, received 43.18% of the vote.
Brown, legislative district director for Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), succeeds lesbian longtime councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, who opted not to seek reelection this year. As the Bay Area Reporter noted, Kaplan is the region's longest-serving out female elected leader in the same post. She was first elected to the City Council seat in 2008; unlike other Bay Area cities, Oakland does not have term limits for its councilmembers.
Kaplan has one of the longest time spans as a local elected official, at 23 years, having spent seven years as an elected member of the AC Transit District Board of Directors. The agency provides bus service in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
Brown, who told the B.A.R. that she was in between meetings on Monday, shared the statement she posted on X.
"Dear Oaklanders: Thank you for your trust in my vision for a stronger Oakland," Brown stated. "I am humbled by your confidence in me. We are READY FOR CHANGE, and I AM READY TO LEAD. This win belongs to Oakland.
"Together, we've shown that bold, new leadership and community power can bring real change," she added. "Oaklanders made it clear that we need action, not rhetoric — safe streets, affordable housing, and a city that works for everyone. This campaign was powered by the people — every neighborhood, every volunteer, every voice that stood up for our shared vision."
In the D5 supervisor race, Bas now leads with 50.04% of the vote to Bauters' 49.96%.
Bas posted on X, "Exciting update: We're thrilled to have taken the lead in the race for Alameda County Supervisor District 5! We look forward to the final results after every vote is counted! I am overwhelmed with gratitude to every volunteer, donor and voter."
With the recall of Thao easily passing, Bas is in line as the current council president to become acting mayor until a special election is held. If Bas wins the supervisor race, however, the council will need to select a member to serve as acting mayor.
Meanwhile, in Oakland's District 3 City Council race, incumbent Carroll Fife easily won reelection with 58.56% of the vote after five rounds of ranked choice tabulations. Her main challenger, gay former city staffer Warren Logan, had 41.44%, according to the unofficial returns.
In the city's District 5 seat that includes Fruitvale, incumbent Noel Gallo handily won with 59.01%. Erin Armstrong, who is a transgender woman, had 40.99%, according to preliminary returns.
Finally, Hayward may get a gay man on its school board. According to the latest returns, Austin Bruckner Carrillo has moved into third place (for three seats) with 15.96% of the vote. Carrillo had been stuck in fourth place right after the election. It is believed Carrillo would be the first out school board member in Hayward if the results hold and he wins.
Never miss a story! Keep up to date on the latest news, arts, politics, entertainment, and nightlife.
Sign up for the Bay Area Reporter's free weekday email newsletter. You'll receive our newsletters and special offers from our community partners.
Support California's largest LGBTQ newsroom. Your one-time, monthly, or annual contribution advocates for LGBTQ communities. Amplify a trusted voice providing news, information, and cultural coverage to all members of our community, regardless of their ability to pay -- Donate today!