Who Will Be the Next Victim of the Grand Bounce? A nonpartisan, nonjudgmental look at the “Hair-Trigger” Form of Government
The early returns are showing that Cottage Grove City Councilors Mike Fleck, Chalice Savage and Alex Dreher are losing their recall votes, with 60% in favor of their ouster.
The recall appears to be about the homeless policy. There was a failed recall attempt against Fleck, Savage and John Stinett in 2023, where petitioners handed in 662 signatures and needed 654. Only 463 signatures were validated. That recall was over the city's homeless policy and a lack of responsiveness.
Here's a look at the groups, mainly anonymous, that are alleged to be funding the Milwaukee School Board recall efforts.
Petitions have been taken out against Eastsound Water Users Association Board Members Jim Nelson, Teri Nigretto, Mike Cleveland and Leith Templin. Petitioners need signatures by August 26. The election would be held on September 30,
The issue seems to be complaints about mismanagement of money.
Petitioners have handed in over 270 signatures for the recall of Killeen Councilmember Jessica Gonzalez. They need 246 (50% of registereds).
It sounds like the recall effort against Councilmember Michael Boyd will fail. (Updated --- The Boyd recall made the ballot).
The recall seems to be part of an ongoing fight, including a vote in favor of a new City Hall, though the petitioner mentions (among many other things) a meeting with developers for which a disclosure form was not filed as well as violations of the First and Second Amendment. The petition itself seems to be a vague kitchen sink, with claims of failing to "listen to the citizens"; Violations of the "code of conduct" and "failure to meet primary standards and "abusing tax dollars."
More developments in the Oakland Mayor Shen Thao effort, as a judge has recused herself from a suit by the Oakland Public Ethics Commission looking into the finances of the pro-recall forces.
Petitions are being taken out against College Park Councilmember Jamelle McKenzie. The complaint seems to be about toxic work environments, contacting voters who were scheduled to speak at council meetings in an alleged attempt to intimidate and posting about the firing of an employee before they were notified.
Petitioners are looking for 900 signatures in 30 days, though it's unclear how many are needed. Georgia is a malfeasance standard/judicial recall state, so it's not clear if this meets the bar for a recall.
The recall of Fifield Town Board Supervisor Ann Sloane has made the ballot and is scheduled for August 27. If there's a primary, that would be held on August 20th, with the election on September 24.
The recall is over creating "tension on the board" though Sloane said it is part of an attack against the Pike Lake Fire Department (where she is a first responder). There was a first recall attempt over permit violations on the lake after some changes to buoy regulations.
Petitioners got more than 200 signatures in a first attempt. The second got 197 and needed 139.
A judge has rejected Athens Mayor Kelly Girtz lawsuit to stop the the recall effort against Girtz and presumably those against Clarke County Sheriff John Q. Williams and Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez. The rejection was over Girtz's failure to file the petition before the deadline. However, petitioners would have to restart the signature gathering.
Georgia is a Malfeasance Standard/Judicial Recall state, so it is not clear that they have the for cause requirement handled.
Petitioners have 45 days to collect 30% of registered voters in the last election for the office -- which will be over 5000 for each (each one has a different last election -- the DA was elected in a special election on December 1, 2020). Because this is registered voters, not turnout, having lower turnout in a special or municipal election wouldn't matter.
There are also threats of recall efforts against 10 district commissioners, though each must be launched from a petitioner in their own district. The first one, against Commissioner Melissa Link, failed as the lead petitioner does not live in that district.
The recall is over the high-profile murder of a nursing student by an undocumented Venezuelan immigrant that has grabbed national attention. In 2019, the county issued a statement on welcoming people from all lands and backgrounds as well as denouncing white nationalists and xenophobes. The lead petitioner is apparently well known after being charged in 2016 after he allegedly "became irate when his wife put too much cheese on his grilled cheese sandwich."The lawsuit over the recall effort against Athe
Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton is facing a recall effort, with a campaign committee being formed, though no petitions have been taken out. The article suggests that about 75,000 signatures would be needed, though looking at the registration in the county, it may be closer to 70,700 (at the moment).
Becton appears to be part of the progressive prosecutor movement, and is facing similar complaints to DAs in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Alameda about a failure to prosecute different cases. Becton has also been accused of demoting her last two opponent after her election and there was apparently a $2.2 million discrimination settlement against the DA's office (which her opponent was part of -- the alleged discrimination was against women).
Both Millbrae Councilmembers, Angelina Cahalan (586-245) and Maurice Goodman (1083-294), are trailing badly in the first announced result of the recall effort.
The recall is over a San Mateo County plan to convert an Inn to a homeless shelter. Both are in their first terms.
Austin's voting on a charter change for the city council, with a proposal to raise the signature threshold for recalls from 10% to 15% of registered voters.
The recall of Grover Beach Councilmember Daniel Rushing has made the ballot. Petitioners handed in 521 valid signatures and needed 504. They seem to have handed in 661 signatures, but collected 709. Hopefully, we'll find out about this discrepancy.
The issue seems to be a water rate increase to help a proposed recycled water project.
The recall followed a legal battle where others were targeted. Here's details about the lawsuit filed against the Grover Beach city clerk claiming that they illegally rejected petitions in the recall effort against Grover Beach Mayor Karen Bright and Councilmembers Rushing and Zachary Zimmerman. Petitioners handed four times the required number of signatures to get the petitions. They need about 2000 signatures for Bright and Zimmerman and 500 for Rushing.
The petitioners are claiming that the clerk required that the petitions remove a number of statements before they could be approved and "slow-walked" the process. The court seems to have ruled for the petitioners, but it's not clear where this is going (outside of the Rushing recall).
Three Morrow County Commissioners survived a special election today, with the preliminary results showing Commissioners David Sykes (657-1504), Jeff Wenholz (737-1465) and Roy Drago Jr., (688-1508) victorious. Here's my comments on the recall in an Oregon Public Broadcasting interview.
The recall was over a seeming kitchen sink grouping of issues, including changes to the ambulance service plan, transparency, water issues, and hiring more administrators.
In 2022, two Morrow Commissioners were ousted in a recall. Drago was appointed to replace one of them (and Wenholz defeated the other in a general election).
Petitioners handed in 725, 748 and 726 signatures and needs 613 valids for each (15% of gubernatorial turnout).
Drago ran in a May 21 primary, though he seems to have come in second (649-638-501-391)
Turnout was 30.84%
The recall of Montebello Councilmember Angie Jimenez has made the ballot. The recall effort cites Jimenez's absences from meetings, her vote in favor of a waste transfer station and opposition to the Traffic and Safety Commission reinstatement. Jimenez blames land developers.
Petitioners handed in 2023 valid signatures and needed 1388. The recall will be on the November 5 general election ballot.
Update: This article discusses out of town funding of the recall.
The recall of both Sunol Glen School Board Trustees have been certified, with Ryan Jergensen losing 277-255 and Linda Hurley down 274-258. There's still a good bit of time for votes to be counted.
The recall is after the board voted to limit the school to only flying US or California state flags. The school flew a pride flag during Pride Month.
Petitioners handed in 307 signatures for Jergensen and got 300 valids; 306 handed in for Hurley, with 301 valids. They needed 246 signatures to get on the ballot.
An update on the recall efforts against eight different Michigan House members -- all of the recalls failed, with no signatures handed in. The most recent failures were those against against House members Betsy Coffia and Noah Arbit, Sharon MacDonell and Republican Representative Cam Cavitt have been approved.
Cavitt's recall language was over his vote in favor of electing Representative Joe Tate as speaker.
Previously, revised petitions were submitted against four Democratic Michigan House members, Jennifer Conlin and Reggie Miller.
Petition language was previously rejected in seven of eight filings, as well as Sharon MacDonell (D) and Jamie Churches (D) and Republican Donni Steele (R).
The six Democrats were targeted over votes in favor of red flag laws to remove guns from people who are considered extreme risks (Coffia and MacDonell) and hate crimes legislation (Conlin, Miller and Churches). The petitions did not spell this out, which resulted in their rejection. Steele (R) is also facing a recall effort over her vote in favor of a bill requiring safe storage of guns when not in use.
While the petition language is over these bills and votes, most believe the recall is due to the fact that the Democrats have a narrow 56-54 majority in the House, leading petitioners to think they can gain control of the chamber with recalls.
Recalls to flip a chamber are not unusual and have actually worked, though the longer term implications are frequently poor. Recalls in Washington in 1981, Michigan in 1983, California in 1995, Wisconsin in 1996, Wisconsin in 2011, 2012, Colorado in 2013 and attempts in Colorado and Nevada in 2019 all had this goal. In Michigan, California and Wisconsin (1996), recalls actually resulted in change of control, though only the Michigan one stuck (Democrats have been out of power in the Michigan Senate for nearly 40 years, ending this last election.
Michigan has also had four state legislative elections, in 1983, 2008 and 2011. Three of the four led to removal.
An update on the push by New Bedford Mayor John Mitchell for a recall law for city council members. The proposal needs the approval from the City Council and then needs the state to sign off on the home rule petition. The council is complaining that they should have a four year term (they have two-year terms) for a recall to be adopted.
Under the proposal, petitioners would need signatures from 15% of registereds in 45 days (at large officials need 600 signatures). The recall proposal also has a turnout veto -- 15% of registereds must vote for it to count.
The city looked into such a law in 2017.
Three Falcon Highlands Metropolitan District Board Members appear to have lost their recall elections, with Erin Ganaway (277-14), Leo Schuhmacher (276-17) and Tom Dickey (280-11), though ballots are still coming in (the election was July 16).
The issue was groundwater flooding and claims of conflict of interest with developers.
Ainsley Sinclaire replaces Ganaway, Bob Aamodt is leading for the Shuhmacher's seat and Curtis Fletcher seems to have won Dickey's replacement race.
Turnout was 35%, which the election official noted was "impressive," comparing it favorably to the 28.5% for the recent congressional primary.
Petitions have been filed against Mott Community College Board of Trustees Janet Couch, John Daly III and Secretary Wendy Wolcott. The recall is over the approval of a contract for an interim president. The vote was 5-2, though the other two members are not eligible for a recall.
No word on how many signatures are needed, but it would be in the tens of thousands.
Update: The petition language has been approved. Petitioners would need over 44,000 signatures for each Trustee.
Petitions have been taken out against Port Angeles City Council members Kate Dexter, Navarra Carr, Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin and LaTrisha Suggs. The petition claims that they are illegible to serve "because they are members of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives and have not posted an international bond."
A Judge will decide whether the petitions meet Washington State's Malfeasance Standard/Judicial Recall.
Petitions have been taken out against East Baton Rouge Parish School Board members Mark Bellue, Nathan Rust, Michael Gaudet, Emily Soule and Patrick Martin.
The issue seems to be a failure to choose a new Superintendent.
Petitioners need 7514 signatures for Bellue, 7010 for Rust, 6689 for Gaudet, 7609 for Soule and 7501 for Martin.
Ballotpedia's mid-year recall report is showing that more officials were removed by recalls in any years that they've been tracking since 2014 (My biggest recall year was 2012, so makes sense). 38 have been removed, which is more than the 29 in 2016. There have been 266 efforts in 164 jurisdictions, higher than the 265 in 2016.
The recall of Juneau Board of Education President Deedie Sorensen and VP Emil Mackey has made the ballot. The recall will be on the October 1 municipal election ballot.
The recall is over a $7.9 million budget deficient, caused by what petitioners claim are accounting errors, though a district consolidation plan seems to be the big issue. Petitioners tried to include the consolidation plan in the petition, but was rejected because of the state's malfeasance standard (though even that may be easily surmounted due to recent court cases). They are the only two board members eligible for a recall vote (the others either have an immediate election or were recently elected).
Petitioners handed in 2408 for Mackey and 2396 for Sorensen. They need 2359 signatures to get on the ballot. Unfortunately, the document does not provide a breakdown of the verified/rejected rate. The recall could cost $105,000.
Update: Here's an article opposing the recall effort and noting that school consolidation is a nationwide phenomenon.
The lawsuit seeking to overturn the rejection of 188 signatures in the recall effort against Assembly Speaker Robin Vos was tossed out by a district court judge. The judge did not rule on the Election Commissions reason for the tossing out of signatures (whether the signature collection deadline for submitting petitions was extended because of Memorial Day), but instead ruled that the signatures were collected in the wrong district (the old district, not the new one).
Due to questions about what district to use because of gerrymandering, the he petitioners needed 6850 under the old district, and they got 6866. In the new district, they needed 7195. The Wisconsin Supreme Court refused to rule on which district counted.
Here's a full discussion of this recall.
Crawford Mayor Tom Phillips was ousted in a recall, 182-109. Petitioners claimed that he does not live in Crawford and that he has a conflict of interest, as his wife is a book-keeper for a city-owned golf course. The Council President replaces him.
The recall effort was the second against Phillips. The first attempt was restarted because the County Clerk gave the wrong number of signatures needed.
The clerk thought it was 35% of the total that Phillips received in his election, though it is 35% of the absolute total of votes cast for the office. The new number is 137, and it was previously thought to be 75.
Crawford has a mayoral recall in 2021 against Connie Shell (who lost to Phillips), which the official survived. The signatures were incorrect at that time as well.
Archuleta County Commissioner Veronica Medina is facing petitions over conflict of interest claims regarding the purchase of a county administration building, though Medina claims that it is over the non-renewal of the contract for the county manager,
The lead petitioner works as a public information officer for the county.
Petitioners need 1829 signatures to get on the ballot. The cost for a recall election is estimated at $37,624.
Update: The recall effort has been dropped.
A few months late, but a recall against Nyssa School District members Pat Morinaka and Susan Ramos failed, though Jeremy Peterson resigned (over a new law that required a statement of economic interest).
The recall attempt was over a failure to "ensure migrant Hispanic families could be part of the review process for the new superintendent."
520 signatures were handed in against Carthage Councilmember Tiffany Cossey, The recall is over a claim that she was creating a hostile work environment, which led the previous council to attempt to pass a censure motion against her.
The recall would be on Election Day, November 5.
The Pilot Point City Council refused to schedule a recall election against Council member Elizabeth Jones, with the vote 5-1-1 against. The recall appears to be over Jones' hosting the city's Christmas party and receiving $900 (it seems to have cost at least $1200). The claim is that this is a favor for the city that she should not have done (a free party appears to be considered a bribe).
The council is claiming that the petition has questionable dating of the signatures.
Texas has had this issue of councils' refusing to schedule recalls numerous times in the past.
Petitioners for the recall of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos are suing to overturn an Election Commission ruling tossing out 188 signatures in the second recall effort against Vos due to late collection. The question is that the filing deadline for submitting petitions were extending because of Memorial Day, but the commission held that did not expand the 60 day signature collection timeframe, hence no signatures could be collected during that time. The vote was 4-2.
Due to questions about what district to use because of gerrymandering, there could be an additional question. The petitioners needed 6850 under the old district, and they got 6866. In the new district, they needed 7195. The Wisconsin Supreme Court refused to rule on which district counted.
There were reports that the petitions include hundreds of duplicates, people signing after the deadline, as well as questionable signature collectors. No idea what happened with that complaint.
In the first effort, also led by former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, they handed in 11000.
If it gets on the ballot, Vos could be facing the dual recall + reelection on the same day (if it is delayed from the August 6th date). Michigan Speaker Andy Dillion did that in 2008 (surviving both).
Vos, a long-time fixture of this blog, is facing the recall over his refusal to support Trump during the attempt to overthrow the 2020 election results and the decision to drop impeachment efforts against Wisconsin's Election Commission Chair Meagan Wolfe as she has refused to push for the discredited claims of election fraud.
Vos almost lost in 2022 after refusing to back the election fraud claims. Gableman, who has previously targeted Vos (after Vos appointed him to head a committee looking at fraud), had called for his recall if he didn't support the impeachment of Wolfe.
The Daily Kos has had some good explanations has a good explanation for the challenge of deciding what district Vos is a part of.
The push to change Taiwan's recall law is running into ferocious opposition. The law, which currently has a "absentee veto" requirement (25% must turnout for the recall to count), would add a "queen of the hill" provision, which requires the pro-recall vote to top the amount of signatures received in the official's original election. The proposal is backed by the opposition Kuomintang Party and opposed by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, so unclear how it would pass.
Recall petitions were taken out against Killeen Councilmembers Michael Boyd and Jessica Gonzalez. The recall seems to be part of an ongoing fight, thought the petitioner mentions (among many other things) a meeting with developers for which a disclosure form was not filed as well as violations of the First and Second Amendment. The petition itself seems to be a vague kitchen sink, with claims of failing to "listen to the citizens"; Violations of the "code of conduct" and "failure to meet primary standards and "abusing tax dollars."
Petitioners need 202 signatures in 30 days.
A recall effort is ongoing against Vilas County Clerk of Courts Beth Soltow. The Board of Supervisors voted down a resolution that would have provided formal support for the recall (the vote against the recall was 18-2).
Soltow is accused of having the office in disarray and of having an affair with Circuit Court Judge Daniel Overbey. There is also a recall effort against Overbey, who is facing an investigation by the State Judicial Commission.
The recall elections of Page Councilors David Auge and Mike Farrow has been scheduled for Election Day, November 5.
210 signatures were handed in. Not sure how many are needed.
The issue was a vote against a contract to modify Lake Powell Boulevard.
The recall effort against Millbrae Councilmembers Angelina Cahalan and Maurice Goodman is set for July 23rd (final day to get ballots in).
The recall is over a San Mateo County plan to convert an Inn to a homeless shelter. Both are in their first terms.
Here's an op-ed that I wrote in Fox News on the Rise of the Running Mates.
I haven't compiled data, but Ballotpedia said that the recall efforts are the highest since at least 2014. Note that the highest I've counted was in 2012 (the blog started in 2011), so presidential election years may see an uptick.
According to Ballotpedia, there were 266 recall efforts (in 164 jurisdictions). So far, 38 officials have been kicked out of office.
Both Sunol Glen School Board Trustees Ryan Jergensen and Linda Hurley are losing the recall elections, with Jergensen trailing 254-218 and Hurley down 249-223. There's still a good bit of time for votes to be counted.
The recall is after the board voted to limit the school to only flying US or California state flags. The school flew a pride flag during Pride Month.
Petitioners handed in 307 signatures for Jergensen and got 300 valids; 306 handed in for Hurley, with 301 valids. They needed 246 signatures to get on the ballot.
Update: Votes totals are ticking closer, with Jergensen now down 274-246 and Hurley trailing 270-250.
Recall efforts have been started against six ODM MPs, Gideon Ochanda, Elisha Odhiambo, Caroli Onondi, Emmanuel Wangwe, Memusi Kanchory and Bernard Shinali, after they voted against their party's position on a Finance Bill (they voted in favor).
Kenya's law requires a High Court finding of a violation of either the Election Act, gross violation of the constitution, misconduct or mismanagement of public funds. The petition requires signatures of 30% of voters and 15% from each ward, and there is an absentee veto, where the recall needs at least 30% turnout for the recall to count.
Following an earlier announcement that he was resigning, Dickinson Mayor Sean Skipworth has finally submitted his resignation in the face of a new recall effort, with a special election to be held in November. Skipworth will stay in office until then. The recall was over claims that he "failed to meet fiduciary responsibilities." There are a host of other complaints, including over his support for the hiring a city manager who has faced assault charges.
Dickinson has been the source of a bitter battle over the recall. The city attorney previously claimed that the recall was invalid after petitioners handed in about 1150 signatures and needed 689 valids (they had 30 days). The City Attorney said that the petitions did not confirm the number of signatures on each page; questions of who was facing a recall; and a lack of specifications on the recall claims.
Dickinson's auditor rejected a second attempt over claims that it didn't meet the specification requirement (a malfeasance standard/judicial recall law) for a recall to be allowed.
Skipworth also protested that the non-city residents are gathering signatures, which violates local laws, though that law itself may violate US law (maybe?).
The recall election against Keelung City Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (KMT) is looking to hand in nearly 40,000 signatures by July 5. They need about 31,000. Kuo-liang is facing criticism over a scandal involving a commercial property at the harbor.
The KMT is looking to change the law, which currently has a "absentee veto" requirement (25% must turnout for the recall to count). They would add a "queen of the hill" provision, which requires the pro-recall vote to top the amount of signatures received in the official's original election.
Voters are discussing a recall effort against Crockett City Council member Darrell Jones for failing to appear at meetings. However, the charter doesn't spell out a recall law so it may not be possible. There is an internal affairs report dealing with Crockett Economic and Industrial Development Corporation and the conduct of the Executive Director which is a source of significant controversy.
Petitions have been taken out against Victor Mayor Barbara Manning and City Councilor Buck Hakes over the firing of maintenance coordinator (seems like he was fire chief and this was a volunteer role) for the Victor Volunteer Fire Department. Petitioners need 15 signatures for Hakes and 40 for Manning by August 12.
An election would cost between $3,000 and $5,000.
Update: The petition effort failed