There are nine people running for mayor this year, eight running for three City Council seats, and another nine vying for three seats on the Oakland school board. You may already be familiar with a few of the contenders, but what about the rest? How can you learn more about the candidates before casting your vote?
Thankfully, there are lots of forums and debates hosted by various groups during a typical election year, and this year will be no exception. We’ll be tracking them as best we can, but could use your help. If you see upcoming debates not listed below, or links to videos or articles about previous forums that aren’t included here, let us know and we’ll add them to this post, which we’ll be keeping updated between now and November. All these forums are free and open to everyone, but be aware that some require registration.
Oakland 2022 election forums
Mayor
Upcoming: Oakland Candidate Forum
Hosted by Families in Action for Quality Education, this forum promises to feature most, if not all of the people running for mayor, in addition to those running for school board in D2, D4, and D6.
Thursday, Sept. 29 5:30-7 p.m. at Castlemont High School, 8601 MacArthur Blvd.
Upcoming: Oakland League of Women Voters
Hosted by the League of Women Voters, one of Oakland’s oldest and most esteemed non-partisan groups, this virtual forum will be moderated by Helen Hutchison, most recent Past President, League of Women Voters California.
Oct. 3, 6-8 p.m., virtual
Past: Alameda County Democratic Party Oakland City Council and Mayoral Forum
The local Democratic Party will be hosting a forum of mayoral and City Council candidates that you can watch on Facebook.
Wednesday, Aug. 31 6-9 p.m. online.
Past: Oakland Mayoral Candidates Forum
Co-hosted by KQED and the Center for Elders’ Independence, this forum includes Ignacio De La Fuente, Gregory Hodge, Treva Reid, Loren Taylor, Sheng Thao, and possibly other candidates.
Tuesday, Aug. 30, 6 p.m. at Laney College Theater, 900 Fallon St.
Past: Jewish Community Oakland Mayoral Candidate Forum
Co-hosted by the Jewish Community Relations Council and Temple Sinai, this event features only Treva Reid, Loren Taylor, and Sheng Thao.
Thursday, Sept. 15, 6-8 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St.
Past: A Seat at the Town Table
Co-hosted by Visit Oakland and the Jack London Business Improvement District, this forum was held on Aug. 15 and featured only Loren Taylor, Treva Reid, and Sheng Thao. The hosts said they plan to hold another forum in September featuring more of the candidates.
Past: Our Revolution Oakland Mayor Candidate Forum
Hosted by the progressive activist group Our Revolution, this virtual forum happened back in June and featured multiple candidates for mayor, including two who qualified for the ballot like Sheng Thao and Gregory Hodge.
City Council
Upcoming: Oakland League of Women Voters
The league is interviewing candidates for each City Council race. Links below.
Past: Alameda County Democratic Party Oakland City Council and Mayoral Forum
The local Democratic Party will be hosting a forum of mayoral and City Council candidates that you can watch on Facebook.
Wednesday, Aug. 31 6-9 p.m. online.
Past: Metropolitan Greater Oakland Democratic Club and Black Women Organize for Political Action Endorsement meeting
This Zoom forum is part of the MGO Democratic Club’s endorsement process for City Council and school board races. Candidates for the D2, D4, and D6 council and school board districts were given a few minutes to answer questions and share their ideas. We’ll post a link if one becomes available.
OUSD School board
Upcoming: Oakland Candidate Forum
Hosted by Families in Action for Quality Education, this forum promises to feature all of the candidates running for school board in D2, D4, and D6, in addition to all of the mayoral candidates.
Thursday, Sept. 29 5:30-7 p.m. at Castlemont High School, 8601 MacArthur Blvd.
Upcoming: Oakland League of Women Voters
The league is interviewing candidates for each OUSD school board seat. Links below.
