Being the first Hmong American to become the mayor of Oakland, California, Sheng Thao had her share of struggles as she was a Laos refugee, Chua Thao‘s daughter who escaped the Hmong genocide and spent most of their life in poverty, given they had to raise 10 children.
Her parents immigrated to the US and settled in Stockton, California, relying on farming vegetables. It was only after their immigration that Thao was born.
Thao tried to escape the disdain of life, so she left her home at 17. However, in her 20s, she landed in an abusive relationship, which was not what she expected.
Thus, a six-month pregnant mother, Sheng Thao, left home with her son Benedict still in her womb. People say her partner was Asian then, but his details remain unknown.
She gave birth to her son, Ben, on October 17, 2006, and raised him as a single mother by initially crashing into her friend’s home.
Later, Sheng Thao met her lifeline and current partner and boyfriend, Andre Jones, with whom she shares a 11– year-old daughter, Brooklyn.
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s boyfriend opened the door when the FBI knocked at their Joaquin Miller home
The recent FBI raid on Sheng Thao’s Oakland home has caused an uproar as they suspect the Mayor of a possible campaign finance violation.
According to a witness, on Thursday, June 20, 2024, Sheng Thao’s partner, Andre Jones, opened the door, and the FBI spent a while before leaving her house with boxes filled with envelopes.
Andre Jones has been with the Oakland Mayor for the last 12 to 15 years, as they share a 11– year-old daughter. So, Andre opening the door was not a surprise.
In most of the campaigns run by Thao, Andre is somewhere near, supporting his partner, although he likes to avoid the spotlight.
This seems to be the case because Sheng Thao’s boyfriend, Andre Jones, is also an activist with a strong background in community service, involved in addressing issues like the housing crisis and income inequality.
He was also a candidate for the Assembly District 18 Democratic Delegate Election for the Progressive/Labor Unity Slate in the 2021 race.
However, he has not revealed his current affairs or employment status. So, if not for the raid in Thao’s home, Andre would still be out of the spotlight.
Even during the FBI raid on Shen Thao’s home, Andre avoided the media when they tried to ask about the situation and left the house.
Agents have also not answered the questions about the raid or why it was done in the Mayor’s home, and Sheng Thao was nowhere to be seen during the entire investigation, leaving room for suspicions.
Additional Information
- Apart from Mayor Sheng Thao’s house in Oakland, the FBI also raided David Duong, the owner of Cal Waste Solutions, house at 12568 Skyline Blvd. in Oakland the same day.
- Sheng Thao is currently 39, born on July 18, 1985, in Stockton, California, to Loas refugee parents, a mother named Chua Thao, and a father who passed away while escaping the genocide.
- She took a job at Merritt College when Ben was 10 months old and eventually entered UC Berkeley to complete her graduation in legal studies.
- As of 2024, Sheng Thao’s estimated net worth is $1 million, although an official evaluation will be performed in the upcoming days.
