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|---|---|
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| 51st Mayor of Oakland | |
| In office January 9, 2023 – December 17, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Libby Schaaf |
| Succeeded by | Nikki Fortunato Bas (acting) |
| President pro tempore of the Oakland City Council | |
| In office January 4, 2021 – January 9, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Dan Kalb |
| Succeeded by | Dan Kalb |
| Member of the Oakland City Council from 4th district | |
| In office January 2019 – January 9, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Annie Campbell Washington |
| Succeeded by | Janani Ramachandran |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 18, 1985 Stockton, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Merritt College (AA) University of California, Berkeley (BA) |
Sheng Thao (RPA: Seeb Thoj, Pahawh: 𖬀𖬶𖬤𖬵 𖬒𖬲𖬟𖬰; born July 18, 1985) is an American politician who served as the 51st mayor of Oakland, California from 2023 to 2024. She was the first Hmong American mayor of a major city in the United States.[1][2] She was elected as mayor of Oakland in November 2022 and started her term in January 2023. On November 5, 2024, Thao was recalled.[3][4] She was the first mayor in Oakland’s history to be recalled.
During her tenure as mayor, Thao pledged to focus on crime, homelessness, and affordable housing. Thao's administration faced a series of challenges, including public safety, business departures and budget deficits. In June 2024, the FBI raided Thao's home, which she shares with her partner Andre Jones, as part of an ongoing investigation.[5] On August 6, 2024, Oakland's police union called on Thao to resign.[6] In January 2025, Thao was criminally indicted by a grand jury on federal bribery charges.[7]
- ^ Singh, Maanvi (November 24, 2022). "From homeless to city hall: the Hmong American mayor making history in Oakland". The Guardian. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ Chan, Louis (November 10, 2021). "Sheng Thao vies to be the 1st Hmong Am woman to lead a big city". AsAmNews. Asian American Media Inc. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:4was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, Alameda Co. DA Pamela Price recalled by East Bay voters". ABC News. November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Swan, Rachel; Ravani, Sarah (August 6, 2024). "Oakland's police union calls on Mayor Thao to resign". sfchronicle.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ "Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao criminally indicted two months after recall". sfchronicle.com. January 16, 2025.