Washington: Early returns show ouster of Richland School Board members

The early returns the recall effort against three Richland School Board members Semi Bird, Audra Byrd and Kari Williams suggest that all three are going to be ousted. The votes counted so far (the election is all mail), show about 15,000-16,000 votes per race, with 55-45% in favor of the ouster (8751-7039 in one of the races). There are about 3600 votes still outstanding.

The recall is over their vote to make mask mandates optional, which petitioners claim violated a state law that mandated masks to fight the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. 

The Washington State Supreme Court has approved the recall effort, which, because Washington is a malfeasance standard/judicial recall state, needed a showing of a violation of state law.

Bird is running for Governor and Williams is running for reelection, so both will be before voters again soon.