NBC Bay Area reported that Lee "will return as Oakland mayor, NBC News projects." ABC7 showed her with 61,694 votes, or 84%, with the next candidate, Julius Robinson, at 6% (4,638), and about half the expected vote counted.

Lee is a longtime former East Bay congresswoman.

More power for the office

Oakland voters also approved Measure EE, which makes the mayor the city's chief executive with veto power, by about 74% in early returns, according to KQED. Lee was listed among the measure's supporters. The change means her new term will come with substantially more authority over city departments than her first stint.

Results remain unofficial until the county certifies them.

All results are unofficial election-night and early-morning counts as of Wednesday, Nov. 4. Counties keep counting mail and provisional ballots for days, and certification comes later, so margins can shift, especially in close contests.