Michigan: Gubernatorial recall approved by Court of Appeals

The Michigan Court of Appeals approved six petitions for the recall of Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D). Petitioners would need almost 1.1 million signatures in 60 days. Since Michigan has a one year grace period (no recall in the last year of the term) and the recalls must take place on the same date as a regularly scheduled election, petitioners must get this in by July 30 to get on the November 2021 ballot.

West Virginia: Clarksburg voting on potential recall law

Clarksburg is voting on an amendment allowing for the initiative, referendum and recall in the city. The recall would need 20 percent of registered voters to get on the ballot. 

California: Two Vernon City Councilmembers facing recall votes

Vernon City Councilmembers Diana Gonzales and Carol Menke is facing a recall election scheduled for June 1. The recall effort is over support for a solar and wind project that is proposed by a developer who is accused of stealing $20 million from City Industry , though Gonzales and Menke claim that it is about their challenges to an attempt to put family members of Mayor Leticia Lopez's in city-owned housing. Vernon is similar to the City of Industry and Bell -- a city with only 112 people which has faced threats of disestablishment.

California: 37 candidates file for gubernatorial replacement race

The recall against California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) may still be waiting for the next steps, but 37 candidates have apparently filed to run in the replacement. Former Menlo Park Mayor Mickie Winkler has now announced that she will run.

California: Sports Betting Initiative seems to be pushed off till 2022

There has been discussion that the Sports Betting initiative, which has gotten enough signatures to go to a vote, could be on the same ballot as the gubernatorial recall. The latest post from the Secretary of State suggests that it will be pushed off till 2022. 

Virginia: Six Loudon School Board members facing recall efforts

Six Loudon School Board Members, Brenda Sheridan, Atoosa Reeser, Beth Barts, Leslee King, Denise Corbo and Ian Serotkin, are facing recall efforts over complaints about alleged inappropriate reading materials in the school. The petitioners claim they are fighting against "Critical Race Theory." The recall petitions seem to have been focused on complaining about school closing to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Petitioners need between 850 to 11,600 signatures to get on the ballot. Loudon has faced discussions about recalls in recent years as Virginia is one of the most prominent states to move politically. Last year, Loudon County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall  is facing recall threats from the Young Republicans over her participation in a recent rally against police violence. The Young Republicans statement includes a reference to a violation of the 14th Amendment. 

If a recall got on the ballot, it would presumably covered by the state's Recall Trial law.

Oregon: Petitioners 61 signatures short in Ontario City Councilor recall effort

Petitioners seeking the recall of Ontario City Councilmember Freddy Rodriguez are 61 signatures short. They handed in 529 signatures and 96 were rejected.  They need 493 valids. They have until June 7 to get the full amount in there. 

The article doesn't mention the reason for the recall, though there was an earlier effort filed against Rodriguez over a kitchen sink of complaints, including that he has a restraining order against him. 

Michigan: Judge rejected appeal of Shepherd School Board Trustee looking to toss out petitions

A judge has rejected an attempt to have the recall petitions against Shepherd School Board Trustee Matthew Showalter thrown out. Showalter is accused of disparaging the name of an opponent's junior varsity football team's player. Showalter apologized for the comment and stepped down as Vice Chair, though has remained on the school board. The appeal asked the judge to require the commission to hear arguments that the petitioner didn't hear the comments. The petition was originally rejected due to a wrong date. Petitioners need 1487 signatures by July 30.

Ohio: Supreme Court stops June 1 Newton Falls Recall (Updated with suggestion that recall must be set by July 8)

The Ohio Supreme Court has stopped the June 1 recall election of Newton Falls Councilwoman Sandra Breymaier (D), holding that the city council did not have enough votes to legally schedule the election. It is now unclear whether the recall can go forward. This might be one of these election laws that prevent elections. 

Update: This article suggest that the date must be set by July 8. 

The recall was scheduled for June 1, with a 2-1-1 vote with Breymaier abstaining.

In one of the previous failures, Breymaier's supporters looked to push the recall to the May 2022 election. This was rejected after Mayor Ken Kline (R) refused to let Breymaier vote and Breymaier's two council supporters left the meeting (and the law director was ejected). A different councilmember (who opposed the recall effort) resigned.

A previous attempt to set the May 25 election date has been rejected by the County Board of Elections because three members walked out, depriving the council of a quorum. 

There was part of a previous crazy scheduling event here, as the Newton Falls City Council scheduled the recall of Councilwoman Sandra Breymaier (D) for May 25, 2021. Breymaier's supporters looked to push the recall to the May 2022 election. This was rejected after Mayor Ken Kline (R) refused to let Breymaier vote and Breymaier's two council supporters left the meeting (and the law director was ejected).

The recall is over complaint of unprofessionalism, name-calling against the mayor and a vote in favor of smart meters. Breymaier claiming that Kline is behind the recall effort. Breymaier notes that she is a swing vote on the Council. Kline denies he is behind the recall effort.  

Newton Falls has an interesting history with the recall.

California: Newsom Recall Roundup -- Should the Democrats push for an earlier recall?; New Polls!; State Union not on Newsom's side

State Senator Steve Glazer (D) suggests that the Democrats should try to get the recall done early, as the numbers favor Newsom. I throw some cold water on this idea (and maybe will write an op-ed). Newsom's big money advantage is still to come -- why not extend the air war as long as possible.

Polls! Public Policy Institute issues one and once again, it is still the same, with Newsom leading 57-40%.

Richard Louis Brown, the new President-elect of Service Employees International Union Local 1000, California's largest state employee union, said that the union won't back Newsom in the recall after union contract concessions fueled his victory (specifically, Brown said that "we're going to run his ass out of office"). The union board still has to vote on that.

An illustrated guide to the Newsom recall

Arizona: State Representative files cease and desist order against recall effort

State Representative Mark Finchem (R) has sent a cease and desist order to the group looking to launch a recall against Finchem over his alleged support for the Capitol Hill riots on January 6th and the attempted overthrow of the presidential election. Finchem is alleging that the group is defaming him, presumably by running a recall effort. Finchem is running for Secretary of State, where he would be in charge of elections. 

The effort had been facing questions after the Chair of the Casa Grande Democrats, Ralph Atchue stepped back from the effort to let professionals run it. Representative Athena Salman (D) has also introduced a resolution to expel Finchem. Finchem accepted more than $6000 from Trump in Recount legal consulting. After facing an ethics complaint, Finchem filed ethic complaints against nearly all Democrats in the state legislature, which went nowhere. 

Petitioners would need 24,774 signatures in 120 days. 

California: Los Angeles Sheriff signs Los Angeles District Attorney recall petition

Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva was one of the first signatures for the recall of Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon. Signatures gathering was approved with petitioners having until October 27 to get 579,062 signatures. The recall is led by victims' rights groups and others over Gascon's criminal justice reform plans, including freeing bail; ending cash bail and other efforts. 

800 volunteers have joined the signature gathering effort, with anther 100 paid workers.

Oregon: Federal case looks at whether Oregon's 90-day signature gathering limit is unconstitutional (under state law)

A Federal Judge in Oregon is hearing arguments as to whether Oregon's 90-day signature gathering limit for recalls is unconstitutional. The 1908 state constitution provision sets no time limit. A 1933 statute adopted the 90 day limit. The question is whether the Constitutional provision should require no limit (Alaska is one state that has no limit for signature gathering).

The suit is filed by the petitioners who gathered signatures for the successful recall of Oregon City Mayor Dan Holladay in November. Though they won the recall, they are still pushing the case. 

California: Sonoma District Attorney recall set for September 14

The recall against Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch has been set for September 14. 

The recall effort is led by the owner of two senior care homes where 20 residents were abandoned in a fire when staff fled. The Oakmont Senior Living company settled for $500,000. The petition attacks Ravitch for ignoring fire safety issues. Ravitch has already announced that she is not running for reelection.

There was significant spending issue in the recall effort. Developer Bill Gallagher and his daughter are reported to have spent almost $800,000 on the recall effort, which is way over the county's limit of $3350 for individual contributions (there is no limit for a state recall effort, but county's are able to put forward their own limit). Gallagher's lawyer claims the law is unconstitutional and has said that such laws have been struck down in other jurisdictions in the state. The latest article does not mention this, so it is possible Ravitch will not sue to stop the recall on these grounds.

Petitions have met the signature requirements, handling in over 43,000 signatures. 32,128 were validated, and they needed 30,056. The recall is estimated to cost between $600,000-$900,000 and they are discussing a September 14 date. 

California: Second petition against Hollister Mayor fails

A recall effort against Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez has been rejected twice, with the petitioners blaming the City Clerk of obstructionist tactics, though the Clerk notes that the petitioners did not fill out the form properly (including writing the incorrect elections code number). Petitioners need 4389 signatures to get the recall on the ballot.

The recall issue cited by petitioners is vague, but Velazquez says the recall proponents are "anti-maskers" and are opposed to coronavirus pandemic restrictions.

Washington: Petitions taken out against Kent School Board members

Four Kent School Board members, Leslie Hamada, Michele Bettinger, Denise Daniels and Maya Vengadasalam were targeted with recall petitions, though the petitions against Daniels or Vengadasalam were tossed out because it is within the six month grace period before the next election (neither are running for reelection).

The lead petitioner Bryon Madsen, lost to Daniels in 2017 and is running for her seat.  

The fifth board member (Joe Bento) was appointed last year and is running unopposed. 

The petitions seem to be focused on a Superintendent no confidence vote from the education association (I'm actually not sure who passed the no confidence vote) and a host of other complaints. 

Petitioners would need 10,991 signatures for Bettinger and 8802 for Hamada. They have 180 days to get the signature.

Maine: Bangor School Board member facing petitions after stalking arrest

Bangor School Board Member John Hiatt is facing recall efforts over his arrest on charges of harassment and stalking (Hiatt claims that he is innocent and apparently blames autism). Hiatt also serves as treasurer of Penobscot County, but there are no county recall laws.

Hiatt was originally the Republican state Senate candidate, but was replaced by Sean Hinkley, who is now the leader of the recall effort is Sean Hinkley (Hinkley lost the race to the Democratic candidate). Hinkey needs signatures from 10% of registereds in 30 days (though he first needs to get 100 signatures to get the additional petitions).

Michigan: Grand Blanc School Board member facing recall threats over alleged QAnon Conspiracy support

Grand Blanc School Board member Amy Facchinello is facing recall efforts over allegations that she is a QAnon Conspiracy supporter. The recall campaign seems like it can't start till August. 

California: Newsom Recall Round-up

Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer appears -- seems to be focused on a campaign message of tax cuts and end of one party rule

California's economy seems to be going in the right direction for Newsom, with the state regaining half of the jobs lost in the pandemic

More from Liz Mair on how Scott Walker beat the recall effort

A look at some demographic breakdown 

California: Infighting hits in two separate San Francisco District Attorney recall efforts

New reports are claiming infighting has impacted the San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin. There are two recall efforts has been launched against San Francisco District Attorney  in his recall fight. 

The recall is over complaints over lenient treatment of criminals. Recall efforts kicked into high gear after a convict who was arrested on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle and violating probation was released without bail and then ran over two women while running a red light. 

Petitioners have until August 11 to around 51,325.