Voters in Oakland, California, have ousted just two years after she narrowly won office to lead the liberal San Francisco Bay Area city.
The Associated Press called the race Monday.
鈥淭hank you for choosing me to serve as your Mayor. As the first Hmong American woman to become the mayor of a major American City, it has been the honor of my lifetime,鈥� she said in a statement last week.
She committed to ensuring a smooth transition.
Thao must vacate the office as soon as election results are certified Dec. 5 and the Oakland City Council declares a vacancy at its next meeting, which would be Dec. 17, Nikki Fortunato Bas, City Council president, said in a statement.
A special election for a new mayor will be held within 120 days, or roughly four months.
Until then, Bas 鈥� as president of the City Council 鈥� would serve as interim mayor unless she wins a seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. As of Monday, Bas was trailing in that race.
Thao was elected mayor in November 2022 and became the first Hmong American to lead a major city. She faced criticism almost immediately after taking office for popular Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong. Frustrated voters, including the local NAACP, blamed Thao for a long list of city woes related to public safety, homelessness and the city鈥檚 budget.
In her statement, Thao said she was proud of her administration鈥檚 accomplishments.
Thao was not the only official booted from office in Tuesday鈥檚 election. Pamela Price, district attorney for Alameda County, which includes Oakland, also was ousted by voters in a recall election. Critics of both Thao and Price disagreed with the officials鈥� progressive politics.
Thao went into Tuesday鈥檚 election weakened by an FBI raid in June of her home 鈥� along with properties owned by a politically influential family that controls the city鈥檚 recycling contract. Thao has maintained and authorities have not said what they are investigating.
Oakland uses a ranked choice voting system that allows voters to list multiple choices in order of preference. Thao narrowly beat Loren Taylor in 2022 despite getting fewer first-place votes than Taylor.
Oakland has about 400,000 residents and is, at times, more politically liberal than San Francisco. It is .
In recent years, has lost three professional sports franchises, including Major League Baseball鈥檚 . California Gov. Gavin Newsom has sent state highway patrol officers, , and to help Oakland battle crime.
Janie Har, The Associated Press
