Progressive Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is dealt another huge blow after FBI raid on boyfriend's home and announcement she'll face recall election

The future of Oakland's progressive mayor, Sheng Thao, is hanging in the balance following a string of challenges and scandals leaving her politically isolated following a week of turmoil.

It what must surely be the worst week of her political life, Mayor Thao, 38, was told that she would be facing a recall election this November - less than two years into her term, and then had to deal with an FBI raid on her home.

Her week went from bad to worse. On Tuesday the city clerk's office notified leaders behind the recall effort that they had gathered enough verified signatures to qualify for the ballot in November and essentially kick Thao out midway through her term.

Increased levels of crime and budgetary problems have challenged Thao since she assumed office in January 2023 after a stint on the Oakland City Council.

Things were no better the following day. On Wednesday, a shooting near Lake Merritt left at least 15 people injured while Juneteenth celebrations were underway. 

Progressive Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao appears to be politically isolated following a week of turmoil including the announcement of a recall election and an FBI raid on her home

FBI agents carry boxes out of a house associated with Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao during a raid in Oakland, California, on Thursday

Thursday saw the FBI raid Thao's home with agents seen carrying boxes out of 80 Maiden Lane, a four-bedroom home that property records link to the first-term mayor. 

Agents also carried out searches about three miles to the south at two homes owned by members of the politically influential Duong family that owns the recycling company Cal Waste Solutions.

The firm has been investigated over campaign contributions to Thao and other elected city officials, the local news outlet Oaklandside reported in 2020.

One of the properties is owned by Andy Duong and the other is connected to David and Linda Duong. 

The family also organized a trade delegation trip to Vietnam with Thao last year. 

By the time Friday came around, the atmosphere around Thao was decidedly icy  with an eerie silence from her would-be political allies.

None appeared to come out to publicly defended her, opposed her recall, or even comment on the raid.

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao's home was raided by the FBI over pay-to-play allegations against her boyfriend Andre Jones (pictured top left), a former aide claims - with the worker also revealing a huge upset in the pair's relationship 

Oakland voters are upset about soaring crime in the Bay Area city.

They say her progressive, soft-on-crime policies have emboldened criminals and driven away businesses.

It is a similar story in many progressive, Democrat cities across the country.  

In Mayor Thao's case, she has previously decried the increase in crime, stating that the uptick began in 2019 before her tenure.

The progressive district attorney for Alameda County, which includes Oakland is also facing a recall.

Pamela Price's policies have been blamed for emboldening criminals and prioritizing their needs over those of crime victims.

In 2022, San Francisco, which sits just across the Bay Bridge from Oakland, recalled its progressive prosecutor Chesa Boudin following similar anger.

In New York City, Manhattan’s district attorney Alvin Bragg implemented policies that benefit criminals and undercut the work of the police in trying to crack down on crime with lax bail policies allowing criminals to be released within hours of committing offenses. 

The same nightmare has played out in Los Angeles with the city's prosecutor George Gascon, Larry Krasner in Philadelphia, Wesley Bell in St. Louis , Kim Foxx in Chicago and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu who even has a 'do not prosecute' list of offenses.

They include the breaking and entering of property, wanton and malicious destruction of property, minor's in possession of alcohol and drug possession including the distribution of marijuana and non-marijuana types.

In Oakland's case, the city has been rocked by violent crime in recent months, including murders, which have soared from 78 in 2019 to 126 last year.

Crime overall increased by 18 percent in 2023 with property crime up 17 percent and violent crime up 21 percent.

And in the first four months of 2024, residential robberies soared by 118 percent on the same period last year.

Staggeringly, one car per every 30 residents was also stolen in 2023. 

The situation has prompted several large corporations to pull out of the city, citing fears for staff safety and the crippling impact of retail theft.

The progressive Democrat lawmaker is the first mayor in the city's history to be up for recall, after a campaign to oust her gained more than 40,000 signatures.

FBI agents raid a home on Maiden Lane where Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao allegedly lives

FBI agents exit a house associated with Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao

'In just a year, Thao's incompetence and dishonesty accelerated Oakland's decline, causing longstanding businesses to close and generational families to leave,' the Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) campaign website stated. 

Her closest political ally, Nikki Fortunato Bas, president of the Oakland City Council and a candidate for Alameda County supervisor, also remained silent when it came to mentioning Thao by name.

'As Council President my sole focus is to ensure that the business of our government to serve our communities continues without interruption for the people of Oakland, who expect and deserve no less. … As for (Thursday's) FBI raids, I share the shock felt by many, and I call on all of us to remain focused on the important work of realizing a safe, connected and thriving town,' she said. 

Many of Thao's supporters, especially those running for office, also appeared to distance themselves. 

Labor leaders who had previously backed her, including Keith D. Brown from the Alameda Labor Council and Zac Unger from the International Association of Fire Fighters, refrained from commenting. 

The local SEIU 1021 union, which helped play a crucial role in Thao's election, also declined to speak out.

There was silence from her supporters in Sacramento, including Attorney General Rob Bonta and Assembly Member Mia Bonta.

Thao's attorney, Anthony Brass, attempted to distance the raid from her stressing how federal officials did not indicate she was a target of the raids and pleaded for the public to reserve judgment. 

But it appears public support for Thao is waning, with Oakland's former police chief LeRonne Armstrong urging her to resign.

'What's really challenging is that not only the absence of the mayor, but the absence of other city leaders stepping up in this moment to make sure that residents and people in the city of Oakland know that leadership is in place and working to help solve some of these problems,' said LeRonne Armstrong, a former police chief fired by Thao.  

Sheng Thao will face a historic recall election in November amid anger over her failure to get a grip on the situation in Oakland

Oakland has been rocked by violent crime in recent months, including murders which have soared from 78 in 2019 to 126 last year. (pictured) Police investigate a multiple shooting and homicide at a gas station Oakland in January 2023

Retired judge Brenda Harbin-Forte, who is leading the recall campaign, is also calling for Thao to step down.  

'She should do the honorable thing, and resign. The FBI raid is going to be a distraction, no matter which way you cut it. Even if she's not charged, it's going to be a distraction trying to manage this investigation and try to lead a city,' Harbin-Forte said.

Thao has yet to make a public statement since the raid occurred but is said to be planning to speak out next week. 

'She has a very binary choice right now. She can fight for political survival or resign,' said political consultant Jim Ross said to the San Francisco Chronicle.  'That's the choice she has. I don't think either of those is an easy one to make.' 

She has the weekend to convince her allies to stick by her side.