Oakland Voters Recall Progressive Mayor, District Attorney

Oakland residents voted to recall a progressive mayor and district attorney after facing significant challenges, including a major budget deficit.

During this period, the Athletics baseball team left Oakland, an In-N-Out restaurant closed down, the police chief was dismissed amidst controversy, and Governor Gavin Newsom had to deploy state troopers to assist with public safety concerns.

The voters removed both Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and District Attorney Pamela Price from their positions. Each had held office for two years.

Thao

Thao, who was elected mayor in November 2022, will need to step down once the recall election results are certified on Dec. 5, and the Oakland City Council declares a vacancy at its upcoming meeting on Dec. 17.

A special election to choose a new mayor must be held within 120 days. In the meantime, Nikki Fortunato Bas, the City Council president, will serve as interim mayor unless she wins the race for Alameda County Board of Supervisors, for which she was trailing as of Wednesday.

Thao, Oakland’s 51st mayor, faced criticism early in her term for immediately firing popular Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong.

Voters, including local organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, began pressuring Thao over various issues affecting the city, such as public safety, homelessness, and financial challenges. Ultimately, 61 percent of voters chose to recall her.

In June, the FBI conducted a raid on Thao’s residence and properties linked to the family operating Cal Waste Solutions, the company that secured Oakland’s recycling contracts.

Local news outlet Oaklandside reported in 2020 about investigations into the company’s campaign contributions to Thao and other local officials.

Authorities have not disclosed details of the investigation, while Thao continues to assert her innocence.

Following the federal raid on her home, Thao made a statement maintaining her innocence and expressing no intention to resign.

Thao, 38, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as mayor and highlighted her pride in her administration’s achievements.

Price

Price, the district attorney for Alameda County, which includes Oakland, was also recalled by voters. However, her campaign is waiting for all votes to be counted before conceding. Currently, 64 percent of voters support her recall.

Prior to her election, Price worked as a civil rights attorney and campaigned on platforms focusing on offender rehabilitation and police accountability.

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors is expected to appoint an interim district attorney from within the office until a replacement process is determined.

Governor Newsom recently extended the California Highway Patrol’s law enforcement surge in Oakland to ensure public safety.

He stated, “We have made nearly 1,200 arrests and recovered 2,246 stolen vehicles. We will continue this important work during the leadership transition.”

Newsom also dispatched state prosecutors and surveillance cameras to Oakland to support ongoing efforts.