OAKLAND, California — Former Rep. Barbara Lee on Friday took a healthy lead in the close race to be Oakland’s next mayor, but stopped short of declaring victory. While former council member Loren Taylor jumped out ahead on election night, late-arriving ballots broke decisively for Lee, who called the updated results “encouraging.”

Former Rep. Barbara Lee, a progressive politician with more than 30 years of service under her belt, is projected to win Oakland, California’s special mayoral election. Lee and her more centrist challenger,

Three days after election night, the outlook on the mayoral race is hazier than Oakland voters might have hoped.