Following a huge protest and the massive amount of recall efforts against Kuomintang (KMT) officials, the KMT Chair Eric Chu is now calling for President Lai Ching-te to face a recall effort, though there is no chance it will move forward..
Lai cannot be recalled in the first year (so that would start on May 20). The petition would need 1/4th of the legislators to sign on, and then the vote of 2/3rds to move forward
Signatures have been turned in against Purcellville Mayor Christopher Bertaut, Vice Mayor Ben Nett and Councilmember Susan Khalil and Carol Luke. The recall is reportedly over a vote to get rid of the police department, a firing of the town manager and replacement with a former mayor. Nett was apparently fired from the police department days before the vote. The officials fault the minority on the board for the issues.
Petitioners handed in 1088 for Bertaut, 1081 for Luke, 1085 for Khalil and 1091 for Nett. They need 495 per official. Virginia uses a recall trial law, so a judge would decide whether the officials should be removed.
Petitions have been taken out against Scotts Bluff County Commissioner Charlie Knapper over alleged issues with a county employee.
Petitioners need 595 signatures in 30 days.
Petitioners have claimed to handed in 60,000 signatures for the recall of Jackson County Executive Frank White -- (yes, the Royals former All-Star 2nd Baseman), though they need (or needed -- I'm not clear) to raise $150,000 to get the petitioners to hand it in.
The recall is over complaints that property taxes are going up between 30% - 400%. There is a complaint that White's salary went up 7%. A recall was threatened last year as well. White says that it was over his vote against a Stadium, and the leaders of the petition (who owe $150,000 for polling), are contractors who wanted a yes vote.
Three legislators have asked the Attorney General for an investigation into White
Petitioners would need 42,902 valids to get on the ballot.
Wrightstown President Angela Hansen-Winker was ousted in a recall, losing 1019- 456 to Nicole Verbetento on April 22.
The recall is over claims that she misused legal counsel and mishandled a superintendent investigation.
Fellow school board member Rayn Warner is leading the recall effort. Another board member Tiffany Van Vreede is mentioned as a supporter as well.
The Wrightstown School Board Clerk has resigned right before the recall vote. Petitioners handed in 1200 signatures, not sure how many were needed or were verified.
Freedom Select Board member Heather Donahue was ousted in an April 23rd recall vote, 122-91.
Donahue, famous for her leading role in "The Blair Witch Project," faced the recall over whether a road that a family has claimed has public access or not (Donahue has argued that it does). The petitioners are complaining that Donahue cut brush and trimming on the road and used orange spray paint to mark trees on the public easement.
There are also issues of complaints about the old board (Donahue was elected last year), including late IRS payments and budget confusion, so this may be part of an old residents vs. new residents fight.
Another Selectman, Ryan Willette, resigned, which means the board no longer has a quorum. Petitioners handed in 73 signatures and needed 46 valids.
Camas City Council John Svilarich is facing a recall effort, with a judge set to a hold a hearing on whether petitions can move forward under Washington's malfeasance standard.. Svilarich was arrested on criminal assault and reckless endangerment charges, after an argument over the disposal of a cigarette butt led to a rock throwing and a gun being pulled.
Among the lead petitioners are Svilarich's opponent in the last election, a losing mayoral candidate and the husband of one of the other councilors.
Longterm former Congresswoman Barbara Lee has won the replacement race, with the numbers currently sitting at 53-47% over Loren Taylor, after the ranked choice voting. The race was close, as Taylor led early. Taylor actually led in the 2022 race before losing to former Mayor Sheng Thao due to the ranked choice voting system.
There have been numerous complaints about voter turnout in the special, though notably not much discussion of the fact that the recall vote in November saw a much higher voter turnout than Thao's original election in 2022. And little blame has passed to the legislature for removing the same-day replacement vote.
Turnout seems to be 36% of registered voters.
Four International Falls Council members Pete Kalar, Tim Wegner, Walt Buller and Mike Holden, are facing petitions.
Petitioners are upset about renovations on a new police office, rather than sharing the sheriff's office or using the old center. There's also complaints about other funding issues including a bond for an arena and a stadium and street repairs.
Councilmembers allegedly used slurs in referring to participants at a meeting.
The clerk rejected the petitions, allegedly claiming that signers failed to include birthdates (which does not appear to be required) and the petition did not include a valid reason. Minnesota is a malfeasance standard state, so this could prove to be a significant hurdle, though the courts usually weigh in here.
Petitions have been taken out against four Arizona Republican State House members, Speaker Steve Montenegro, Majority Leader Michael Carbone, Appropriations Chair David Livingston and Representative Matt Gress.
The recall is over delays for a supplemental funding for the Division of Developmental Disabilities.
Petitioners need 25% of turnout by August 15, which is, Gress 34,399, Montenegro, 27,381, Livingston, 26,342, and Carbone, 21,747.
San Fernando Mayor Mary Mendoza and Councilmembers Joel Fajardo and Victoria Garcia are facing recall threats over their votes against becoming a sanctuary city. Petitioners would need 2499 signatures to get on the ballot.
Petitions have been taken out against Falls City Mayor Mark Harkendorff following the resignation of all six members of the City Utilities line crew. Petitions blame "unprofessional" and "insulting" behavior.
Petitioners need 475 signatures.
The recall has been started by former Councilmember Kaylie Ractliffe.
Unity Community Hall and Recreation District Board Member Daniel Davis is facing a recall vote over the use of the hall. Petitioner seems to be complaining about a pop-up pub run by a nonprofit that Davis helped found. Ballots have to be returned by May 6.
123 signatures were turned in.
The Oakland Mayoral Replacement race is shaping up to be a close contest, with City Councilmember Loren Taylor leading former Representative Barbara Lee, though we have quite a ways to go before we know anything. Taylor actually led in the 2022 race before losing to former Mayor Sheng Thao due to the ranked choice voting system.
There have been numerous complaints about voter turnout in the special, though notably not much discussion of the fact that the recall vote in November saw a much higher voter turnout than Thao's original election in 2022. And little blame has passed to the legislature for removing the same-day replacement vote.
Turnout seems to be 36% of registered voters.
Six people were charged (and released on bail) in claims that they falsified signatures in recall efforts against legislators. Notably, they all were allegedly forging signatures against Democratic Progressive Party candidates. Most of the recalls are targeting the Kuomintang candidates.
Recall Elections against South Tucson City Council members Roxanna Valenzuela, Brian Flagg and Cesar Aguirre has been set for August 5th. The recall was originally over claims that Valenzuela does not meet the residency requirement and the other two helped cover it up, though it seems other issues about ignoring the lead petitioner have cropped up.
The leader of the recall effort is current councilmember and former Mayor Paul Diaz led the effort, who also has claims that they bought a motel that seems to be used by the government to put up some people (perhaps coming out of rehab) and their support for Prop. 409, a tax to fund public safety (which passed).
Diaz himself lost a recall vote in 2015 and then came back in 2018 with a recall against other councilmembers and regained the mayoralty.
Diaz got 163 signatures for Flagg, 170 for Aguirre and 173 for Valenzuela.
The Wrightstown School Board Clerk has resigned right before the recall vote against President Angela Hansen-Winker on April 22 (Nicole Verbeten running against her.) The recall is over claims that she misused legal counsel and mishandled a superintendent investigation.
Fellow school board member Rayn Warner is leading the recall effort. Another board member Tiffany Van Vreede is mentioned as a supporter as well.
Petitioners handed in 1200 signatures, not sure how many were needed or were verified.
Lancaster City Clerk has sued the lead petitioners (all 86 signers) in the ongoing recall effort against six-term Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris, claiming that the petition contains false information.
The lead petitioners appear to be two of the people who Parris beat in the election last year, Republican Mark Maldonado and Democrat Johnathon Ervin. Parris won (in a field of 10) 4763 to 3648 for Erivn and 3190 for Maldonado.
Alaska has a malfeasance standard/judicial recall law, but this seems to be another argument in the recent court cases that have weakened the law significantly.
The petition had 41 signatures. No word on how many were accepted.
Delta Junction had a recall in 2001 against Thomas "Roy" Gilbertson and Susan "Susie" Kemp over a private prison construction. Both survived the effort.
Petitions have been taken out against South St. Paul Councilmember Pam Bakken over allegations that a child ingested methamphetamines at Bakken's day care.
Petitioners need 2763 valids in 30 days. Since Minnesota is a malfeasance standard state, a judge will presumably weigh in here.
The recall against Wrightstown School Board President Angela Hansen-Winker is coming up on April 22, with Nicole Verbeten running against her. The recall is over claims that she misused legal counsel and mishandled a superintendent investigation.
Fellow school board member Rayn Warner is leading the recall effort. Another board member Tiffany Van Vreede is mentioned as a supporter as well.
Petitioners handed in 1200 signatures, not sure how many were needed or were verified.
Petitions have been taken out against Joplin Councilmember Ryan Jackson for alleged comments on social media calling gender dysphoria a mental illness.
Update: The petitions have been paused.
A new bill would allow the removal of the signatures and addresses from the first Notice of Intention to Recall that is filed in California. The bill is proposed by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R). The bill (SB270) would only require a name, city, state and zip code to be published in a newspaper (though all the regular information would have to be submitted to the clerk.
The names of anyone signing the actual petition are not publicized under California law (though they are under other state laws).
Here's the report, which suggests a law where the city council would put a recall on the ballot.
A nonprofit called Democracy in Action has raised over $180,000 in six months for the recall effort against Jackson County Executive Frank White -- (yes, the Royals Star 2nd Baseman). No word on who is backing the organization.
The recall is over complaints that property taxes are going up between 30% - 400%. There is a complaint that White's salary went up 7%. A recall was threatened last year as well.
Petitioners would need 42,902 valids to get on the ballot.
Petitions have been taken out against Phoenix School Board President Jessica Bueno. The petition notes a slew of reasons, including a move to fire the school superintendent and votes to close two schools. Bueno is also facing complaints about bailing out a "longtime associate" who was later sentenced to a year in jail on a solicitation of a minor charge.
A look at how Mayor Sheng Thao ran the office and the subsequent firing of staff members by the temporary replacement. One of the proposals was to try and get volunteers to disrupt the petition gathering.
Two Bowman Councilmembers Betty Jo Maxwell (106-26) and Leah Carey (106-26) were ousted in a April 8th recall vote. The issue was approval of poultry houses.
There will be a special election to fill the seats within 45 days (presumably of certification). The seats are facing a recall in November.
The recall was previously thrown out because a judge ruled against it. It seemed that it was claims did not meet the state's malfeasance standard grounds, but this article calls the issue procedural.
Loveland Councilmember Erin Black is facing petitions after a confrontation in the park (though it does not sound like it was physical -- though one of the video has claims about it. It's really not clear from the story). The council is calling for her resignation.
The Illinois Senate Executive Committee has moved forward a bill, SB1954, allowing recalls for county officials throughout the state. The proposal would allow the counties to propose recall laws and put it on the ballot in 2026.
The bill, proposed by Senator Doris Turner (D), comes following the shooting of Sonya Massey last year. The Sangamon County Sheriff faced heavy criticism and has since resigned.
The House has passed Senator Kristin Roers' Senate Bill 2269, which looks to increase signature requirements, allow for the cancelation of uncontested elections and require a stated reason approved by the Secretary of State (though it does not sound like a malfeasance standard).
The signature rules would be the same across the state and no longer allow for home rule provisions that have lesser totals. The number would be raised to 35% of turnout in the last election, up from 25% and would also require 15 petitions minimum to be taken out (I've never seen that type of requirement). It would also limit recalls to one a term.
The timeframe for a recall effort would be one year for state level officials and 90 days for others.
The recall followed the odd recall against Dickinson City Councilmember Jason Fridrich, where no one challenged him in the race set to take place on March 11 (though the lead petitioner is planning in running as a write-in), there are now discussions of changing the rules.
Petitions have been taken out against North Slope Borough Assembly President Crawford Patkotak, who is the father of Mayor Josiah Aullaqsruaq Patkotak. Both are facing petitions over complaints over allegedly misusing funds for travel expenses for the mayor's family. The President allegedly did not disclose a personal interest when approving compensation for travel.
Apparently, the salary for the position of the Mayor is over $280,000.
Petitioners need 371 signatures for the mayor and 261 for the Assembly President in 60 days.
This is the second petition filed, the first was rejected due to Alaska's malfeasance standard (which may not be in effect thanks to recent court decisions).
In 2016, a previous Mayor, Charlotte Brower, was kicked out with a recall for sending her grandchildren to a basketball camp in California, among other issues.
The recall effort against Pocatello-Chubbuck School Board Member Raymond Knoff over a vote to close an elementary school over declining enrollment has failed.
Petitioners turned in over 900 signatures and needed 853 valids. It's not clear how many were rejected.
