Post-Senate
Proposition 93, a term limit alteration ballot measure sponsored by Perata and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, did not pass in February 2008. Perata termed out of the State Senate (and Núñez termed out of the State Assembly) in 2008. The proposition would have allowed Perata to serve one more term in the State Senate (and Núñez three more terms in the State Assembly). Perata was a target for criticism by the opposition to Proposition 93. One politically motivated television ad included the following line: "Don Perata, whose home was raided by the FBI in the ongoing corruption probe."
Perata filed a "statement of intention" to run for the California Board of Equalization in 2010, but instead decided to run for Mayor of Oakland after incumbent Ron Dellums declined to run for re-election.
In the November 2010 election, Perata ran for Mayor in a field of nine candidates. The two other major contenders were City Council members Jean Quan and Rebecca Kaplan. Perata led in first-place balloting, but came in second place following winner Quan after taking into account (instant runoff)].
Perata is currently co-chair of a California campaign committee to pass the California Cancer Research Act, a ballot measure to be decided by California voters on June 5, 2012. If passed, the measure is projected to generate over $500 million dollars annually for cancer research by levying a new $1-per-pack tax on tobacco products in California. Revenues will also be spent on smoking-cessation programs, and tobacco law-enforcement.
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