Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, who represented the East Bay in Congress for over two decades, announced plans to run for mayor of Oakland in a special election.

The Bay Area politician, known for her antiwar position and breaking barriers in Congress, just left the House after more than two decades.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee launched her campaign Wednesday, joining the special election race for Mayor of Oakland. Supporters who had been urging her to enter the race for mayor, greeted her as she made her way to the city clerk's office at 1:30pm to sign the official paperwork needed to launch her campaign.