Schaaf Wins Oakland Mayor's Race

Oakland native Libby Schaaf held on to a sizable early lead in the Oakland mayor's race, Tuesday night, handing apparent defeat to Rebecca Kaplan, her City Council colleague who was hoping to make history as the Bay Area's first out elected mayor to serve a full term.

According to unofficial returns under ranked choice voting, Schaaf captured 62 percent of the vote, while Kaplan was in second place with 37 percent of the vote. The initial ranked choice results had Mayor Jean Quan eliminated.

By Wednesday afternoon, Quan had conceded the race, congratulating Schaaf in a Twitter message.

Additional vote totals are expected to be released beginning Thursday as more ballots are counted. But on Wednesday, Quan indicated she would help with a smooth transition and referred to Schaaf as mayor-elect, according to media reports.

[Update, 11/5/14: After the print edition of the paper went to press, Kaplan issued a statement conceding the race and congratulating Schaaf.

"This afternoon, I'm proud to congratulate Mayor-elect Libby Schaaf on her incredibly well-fought campaign to move Oakland forward," Kaplan said. "Mayor-elect Schaaf and I share a deep and profound commitment to making Oakland stronger, safer and more prosperous. We'll together represent the entire city, and I'm excited to partner with her on a wide variety of ways to improve the city that she and I both love."end of update]

Schaaf, 48, declared victory late Tuesday, although Kaplan had not conceded due to the remaining outstanding ballots.

"I'm incredibly encouraged to come out of the gate so strong," Schaaf told the Bay Area Reporter at her election night party that was packed with about 200 people. "I'm feeling so proud of this campaign."

The results, if they hold up, would be a blow to Kaplan, 44, who was ahead in several pre-election polls in the crowded 15-candidate field and parlayed her upbeat personality into a campaign that promoted public safety, jobs, and retaining the city's pro sports teams. This was her second try at winning the mayor's race.

Schaaf ran on a platform of strengthening the police force, transparent government, and creating better-paying jobs.

Kaplan was in good spirits Tuesday night, even though the first set of returns had her in fourth place. Later that evening, however, the numbers improved but she still couldn't overtake Schaaf's early lead.

"We come together to move Oakland forward," Kaplan told supporters at her party at Everett and Jones Restaurant. "It's a blessing to be part of leading this great city."

Quan, 65, who had trailed in pre-election polling, remained upbeat Tuesday night.

"We really feel good about the absentee ballots," she said at her party at Scott's Seafood Restaurant. "We're building momentum."

But the momentum appeared to be with Schaaf, who had been endorsed by Governor Jerry Brown and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) in the closing weeks of the campaign.

Schaaf is a strong ally of the LGBT community, and told the B.A.R. in an editorial meeting prior to the election that she would make sure LGBT leaders are visible as part of city government.

The mayor's race split Oakland's large LGBT community, as in addition to Kaplan being a member of the community, Schaaf and Quan had out people running their campaigns and LGBT supporters. None of the candidates could muster the endorsement of the East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club, and local newspapers split their endorsements. Schaaf received the backing of the East Bay Express and Kaplan got the endorsement of the now-defunct San Francisco Bay Guardian . The B.A.R. endorsed Quan.

Progressive candidate Dan Siegel also had some LGBT support but trailed throughout the evening.