Sheng Thao

  • Sheng Thao
    𖬀𖬶𖬤𖬵 𖬒𖬲𖬟𖬰
Thao smiling
51st Mayor of Oakland
Assumed office
January 9, 2023
Preceded byLibby Schaaf
President pro tempore of the Oakland City Council
In office
January 4, 2021 – January 9, 2023
Preceded byDan Kalb
Succeeded byDan Kalb
Member of the Oakland City Council
from 4th district
In office
January 2019 – January 9, 2023
Preceded byAnnie Campbell Washington
Succeeded byJanani Ramachandran
Personal details
Born (1985-07-18) July 18, 1985 (age 39)
Stockton, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
EducationMerritt College (AA)
University of California, Berkeley (BA)

Sheng Thao (RPA: Seeb Thoj, Pahawh: 𖬀𖬶𖬤𖬵 𖬒𖬲𖬟𖬰; born July 18, 1985) is an American politician who is the 51st and current mayor of Oakland, California. She is 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 is 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 has 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]

  1. ^ Singh, Maanvi (November 24, 2022). "From homeless to city hall: the Hmong American mayor making history in Oakland". The Guardian. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, Alameda Co. DA Pamela Price recalled by East Bay voters". ABC News. November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Swan, Rachel; Ravani, Sarah (August 6, 2024). "Oakland's police union calls on Mayor Thao to resign". sfchronicle.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.