This story was originally published Sept. 16. As of Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Sheng Thao was trailing in the recall vote, 65% to 35%.
It’s been over 100 years since the last recall election against a mayor in Oakland. Unsurprisingly, some Oaklanders are a little confused about what exactly will happen if the recall succeeds.
Regardless of your stance on the recall, it’s helpful to know the steps that will take place after Nov. 5, whatever the outcome.
Here’s how we got here
For people just tuning in, the recall against Sheng Thao was formally launched in January. Led at first by Brenda Harbin-Forte, a retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge and former member of the Police Commission, recall proponents have accused Thao of contributing to a public safety crisis in Oakland and mishandling the city’s finances, among other things. Seneca Scott, an activist who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2022, has served as a spokesperson for the campaign…