California: Dueling charges in Shasta County Supervisor recall

Dueling ad campaigns have led to claims of lying by both sides in the recall election for Supervisor Kevin Crye. The election has been set for March 5, 2024 (Primary Day).

The recall got the ballot after petitioners handed in 5104 signatures and 4929 were verified. They need 4151 valids to get on the ballot. Supervisors questioned the small rejection rate.  

The recall is over the vote to cancel a voting systems contract with Dominion Voting and requiring handcounting, which will cost the county millions. This is part of the fight in Shasta and Crye seems to be connected to the far right groups, one of whom led the successful recall of Supervisor Leonard Moty.

Supporters in Shasta County are asking that Governor Gavin Newsom not appoint a replacement if is ousted in a recall and instead allow the voters to choose. Presumably, this could be an issue in the election. As a reminder, in 2022, the state changed the law for local officials who lose a recall election. In that case (unless there is a local law from a charter city), the new law eliminates a replacement election and instead uses an automatic replacement model (with the governor or a specified body making the choice of replacements). The law also explains why there is such a long timeframe until the recall is held (it allows a longer timeframe to tie recalls to general election dates).