Voters in Oakland, California, have decided to remove Mayor Sheng Thao from her position just two years after her close election win to lead this progressive city in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The election results were reported on Monday, marking a significant shift in leadership for Oakland. Thao expressed her gratitude in a recent statement, stating, “Thank you for choosing me to serve as your Mayor. As the first Hmong American woman to occupy this role in a major American city, it has been the honor of my lifetime.”
She also pledged to facilitate a smooth transition of power. According to the City Council President, Nikki Fortunato Bas, Thao is required to step down once the election results are certified on December 5 and the council officially declares the vacancy during its subsequent meeting on December 17.
A special election to appoint a new mayor will take place within the next 120 days, approximately four months from now. In the meantime, Bas, who is also the City Council president, will serve as the interim mayor unless she secures a position on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, a race in which she was trailing as of Monday.
Thao, who assumed office in November 2022, made history by becoming the first Hmong American to serve as mayor of a significant city. However, shortly after her inauguration, she faced backlash after dismissing the well-liked Oakland Police Chief, LeRonne Armstrong. Many frustrated voters, including representatives from the local NAACP, attributed various city issues—concerning public safety, homelessness, and budget management—to Thao’s leadership.
In her statement, she expressed pride in her administration’s achievements. On the same day, Pamela Price, the district attorney for Alameda County, which encompasses Oakland, was also removed from her position through a recall election. Both Thao and Price faced criticism for their progressive approaches to governance.
Thao entered the election with her candidacy impacted by an FBI raid that occurred in June at her residence and other properties linked to a prominent family with connections to the city’s recycling operations. Thao has asserted her innocence, and the specifics of the investigation remain undisclosed.
Oakland employs a ranked-choice voting system, enabling voters to rank candidates in order of preference. Despite receiving fewer first-place votes than her contender, Loren Taylor, Thao narrowly won the election in 2022.
With a population of around 400,000 residents, Oakland often displays a more liberal political climate than neighboring San Francisco and is the hometown of Vice President Kamala Harris. In recent years, the city has seen the departure of three professional sports teams, including the Major League Baseball team, the Oakland Athletics. In response to rising crime rates, California Governor Gavin Newsom has deployed state highway patrol officers and prosecutors, as well as installed surveillance cameras to aid Oakland.