Oakland to Pay $208K to Settle Lawsuit Questioning Ex-Mayor Sheng Thao’s Ballot Eligibility

JB Quinnon
May 4
2 min read

The City of Oakland is moving to settle a legal dispute for $208,000 over claims that former Mayor Sheng Thao should not have been allowed to appear on the 2022 mayoral ballot. The lawsuit, brought by East Bay resident and activist Peggy Moore, alleged that Thao missed the official candidate filing deadline—making her ineligible to run in the election that eventually made her mayor.

The case, while separate from Thao’s other legal entanglements, adds to a growing list of controversies that have marred her political legacy. During her brief tenure, Thao faced backlash over surging crime rates, the controversial firing of the city’s police chief, and a November 2024 FBI raid on her home as part of a federal corruption investigation. These events contributed to her recall later that same year.

Adding further weight to the city’s political drama, Thao and her longtime partner were later indicted on federal bribery charges, accused of accepting illicit payments from executives of a recycling company with city contracts.

Despite the severity of those criminal proceedings, the lawsuit regarding her candidacy struck at the root of democratic legitimacy: Was her entire election invalid from the start? While the city has not admitted wrongdoing, the proposed $208,000 payout aims to avoid a prolonged court battle and officially close the case.

The Oakland City Council is expected to review and vote on the settlement in the coming weeks. If approved, it would bring an official end to the dispute, but the political and legal shadow over Thao’s time in office continues to loom large.

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