Barbara Lee's train wreck of a performance raises all sorts of questions

BLee repeats having no experience in local government; offers a curious ranked choice strategy; says media is unfavorable to her; and acknowledges Trump will likely impound federal funding for Oakland

☕️MORNING BUZZ

—The Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club in Oakland has a way of drawing out the truth from progressive officials.

During the 2024 election cycle, Pamela Price (along with Chesa Boudin) and supervisorial candidate John Bauters spoke a little too freely when addressing the progressive club.

Add Barbara Lee to the list.

Lee delivered a train wreck of a performance on Monday night that calls into question her grasp of municipal government, the true intent of her campaign for Oakland mayor, and her understanding of the strategy behind ranked choice voting.

It also raises questions about whether her campaign should mothball Lee from here to the April 15 election.

Among the flubs and curious statements made by Lee on Monday:

—Lee twice acknowledged being inexperienced in local government. Lee served the area as a member of the state assembly and state senate before heading to Congress, but has never served in local government.

• “I’m an outsider to city government. When they talk about that I’ve been around the block a few times—reminding me that I’m really an outsider. I’m seeing this city government with some new lens, some new perspective, and with new ideas.”

• “I understand what people’s concern is because I’ve been not necessarily living in Washington, but I’m there 4-5 days a week, back here three days, and back and forth, and I’ve never worked in city government. You can see it as a glass half-empty or a glass half-full.”

—Lee suggested that’s she’s running for mayor to check another box on her long legislative resume.

• Lee said people asked her to run for mayor. “I said, ‘What are you talking about?’ I talked to my children and they said, ‘Oh, you’ve been there, done that.’ I said, ‘No. I haven’t done mayor.’”

—She predicted the Trump administration will likely impound federal funds allocated to the city, a scenario that will further impact the city’s already tenuous budget situation.

• “If anybody knows how to get money out of Washington, it’s Barbara Lee.” She added, “If there’s a dime left, I’m going to know where it is and I’m going to be able to get it. But believe you me, this administration—we’re going to have to look to the state and public and private partnerships, and other ways to get investments here into Oakland.”

—Read more about Lee’s comments in today’s newsletter.

—More inside:

• Sheng Thao’s legal defense fund is deep in debt.

• Livermore mayor delivers a history lesson about the city namesake’s position on immigrants.

• Hayward schools superintendent indicates a large number of layoffs are looming as district faces a $54 million budget shortfall.

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