California: Judge rules that Newsom will NOT receive party affiliation next to name on the ballot

Governor Gavin Newsom has lost his bid to have his party designation next to his name on the recall ballot, after Superior Court Judge James Arguelles (who granted the recall 120 extra days) ruled that Newsom did not hit the deadline to list the party affiliation. Newsom asked that the judge rule the failure to file the designation as a "good faith error" during Newsom's official response on February 28, 2020, but this was rejected due to the clear language of the statute. This was due to a new law that was approved and signed into law in October 2019. Prior to that, the recall had no party affiliation listed. 

No word on whether Newsom will appeal the ruling.

California: Newsom Recall Round-up: Carey Out, Jenner claims to run in 2022; Grenell filing FOIA at voter rolls

Newsom's case to put a Democratic identification on the ballot is heading for a decision.

Mary Carey is not running in the recall after all, citing an inability to release her tax returns

In news not likely to upset Newson, Caitlyn Jenner said she will run in 2022 if Newsom survives the recall.

Jenner held her first press conference, apparently not saying much. Jenner was also heckled at Conservative Political Action Conference

Ric Grenell, the very controversial former Acting Director of National Intelligence, claims that he will file Freedom of Information requests to look at voter rolls. Grenell also stated that Newsom's call to conserve water is "ridiculous" because "We live on the ocean. The last thing that Californians should be worried about is water."

Another detailed look at the recall

Washington: Seattle City Council member signs petition seeking own recall in order to get recall scheduled

Big move in the recall effort against Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant (the first socialist elected to Seattle's council in 100 years), as Sawant signed the petition herself. Sawant wants to get the recall on the ballot to coincide with a regular election day, which (in this theory) will help push Savants supporters to vote. 

Petitioners would need 10,739 signatures by October 19 to get on the ballot. August 1st seems to be needed to get the Election Day recall. 

Washington is also a "malfeasance standard/judicial recall state" though the State Supreme Court upheld a lower court judge ruling approving the recall effort. Two of the six charges were dismissed sat the lower level. Sawant would be the first councilmember to face a recall in Seattle's history (though two Mayors were kicked out).

The recall effort was over a kitchen sink of complaints, including revealing the mayor's home address, giving decision-making authority to Socialist Alternative (which has been a complaint against her before, though it was dismissed by the Ethics and Election Commission), promoting a ballot initiative, letting protesters in City Hall after hours and helping to create a criminal environment.

Update: The petitioners are the only ones that can turn in the signatures, so I'm not sure how this will work.

Alaska: Petitioners meeting to decide next steps in Gubernatorial recall effort

The numbers against Governor Mike Dunleavy (R) has been stuck for months on the website. Petitioners are gathering to decide what to do next. 

Louisiana: Ascension Blues as six Parish Councilmembers face recall threats

Six Ascension Parish Council members, including President Clint Cointment (I'm waiting for the other names), are facing petition threats. The issue seems to be a proposed 12-month moratorium on new construction, which the council voted to reduce to 9 months. The complaint is that there is flooding caused by excess building.  Petitioners need about 3500 signatures for each council member. 

California: Carlsbad Councilwoman resigns during recall effort, claiming will go to college outside of county

In a surprise move, Carlsbad Councilwoman Cori Schumacher (D) has resigned in the face of a recall campaign, claiming she is moving outside of San Diego County to go to college. 

The recall effort was led by Reform California founder Carl DeMaio (who has led numerous conservative recall efforts) over a whole kitchen sink of complaints, including behavior, political donations, a labor agreement and her position in favor of enforcement policies to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Schumacher has criticized Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall (R) who she accuses of promoting personal attacks.

Petitioners needed about 3562 signatures by September 8 to get on the ballot. 

California: Newsom Recall Round Up -- Is Newsom causing a bump in recalls throughout the state?

The New York Times looks at the question of whether the Newsom recall is responsible for a bump in recalls statewide. I'm quoted in the piece arguing that the connection is not there and that California is having a fairly regular recall year. The LA and SF District Attorneys recall, as well as the SF School Board, all are about national issues, and are to some degree intraparty, that there is no reason to believe that it is caused by the Newsom effort.

Here's another NYT piece on the September 14 date, citing my previous writing claiming that a later recall would help Newsom. 

And an Op-ed by Ezra Klein in the NYT talking about the vetocracy and the downside of the recall. Its very much a "Nuts and Gum, Together at Last!" piece, which seems to have little to do with the recall.

Here's Republican Strategist Jason Cabel Roe discussing the replacement field.

California: Newsom fundraising vastly outpacing pro-recall efforts

The LA Times has a look at the big donors for the recall and anti-recall efforts, with Newsom and the anti-recallers raising $32.5 million as opposed to the $16.8 million for the recall. It is not clear from the piece how much has already been spent from the recall backers in order to get the recall on the ballot. Also, much of the money may be for the replacement candidates, who won't be running the same type of race against Newsom. John Cox, who Newsom obliterated in 2018, reports $7.1 Million self-funded, so not sure how that counts here. 

Colorado: Money flowing into the Westminster city council recall

Money has started flowing in for the recall campaign of Westminster City Councilmember Jon Voelz. Democrats have started putting thousands of dollars into the defense of Voelz, while the recall supporters, the Water Warriors, have spent over $21K in their attorney, former Secretary of State Scott Gensler. 

The recall has been long running battle, with the resignation of Mayor Herb Atchison. Atchison resigned after signatures were verified in a recall effort. 

Oregon: State Senate Minority Leader Recall Effort fails to turn in signatures

No signatures have been handed in against Oregon Senate Minority Leader Fred Girod (R) by the Tuesday deadline. Girod faced a recall from right wingers after he and five other Republican Senators attended a Senate session with a vote to ban firearms in state buildings. The Republicans all objected to the proposal but their presences ensured the 20 member quorum needed to vote. There is still a recall effort against Oregon State Senator Lynn Findley (R)

Petitioners needed 8922 signatures. 

Ohio: Newton Falls Council Recall finally scheduled for July 27

The long fight over the Newton Falls City Councilwoman Sandra Breymaier recall has finally reached the end stage, as an election was set for July 27 by a 3-1 vote. Breymaier did not attend the meeting (the vote was 3-1). 

Here's the full look back on what's happening. 

Colorado: Signatures handed in against Grand Lake Mayor

Grand Lake is holding a hearing on whether petitions that have been handed in against Mayor Steve Kudron should enable a recall to move forward. Petitioners handed in 45 signatures, with 44 certified. They needed 25. The issue seems to be a purchase of property by the town, with complaints of open meeting law violations. The leaders of the effort are a the spouses of a former Trustee and County Assessor. 

California: San Francisco D.A. recalls proceeding, though petitioner claims a good number of signatures will be tossed out

The two recall efforts against San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin are in different stages of the signature collection phase. The first one, led by former Republican Mayoral candidate Richie Greenberg, claims to have about 42,000 signatures but Greenberg said a good number of them will fail. This effort has until August 11.  

The second recall, led by the San Francisco Association of Realtors Executive Director Mary Jung and Andrea Shorter, a political consultant, claims they have about 25,000 signatures, with an October 25 deadline.

Petitioners need 51,325 valids. 

California: Poll says 60% support ouster in SF School Board attempt

A new poll out from EMC Research notes that there is strong support for a recall of three members of the San Francisco Board, President Gabriela Lopez, Vice President Alison Collins and member Faauuga Moliga, with over 60% in favor of removal. The recall is over the School Board is over a few issues, including a push to plan for the reopening of the schools, changing admissions for a high school and an extremely controversial decision to change the names of public schools for political reasons and using some odd history, including removing the name of Abraham Lincoln. Mayor London Breed has been particularly critical of the board, and the City Attorney Dennis Herrera has sued to compel reopening. 

Petitioners are claiming that they have over 26,000 signatures. San Francisco follows state law, which would require 10% of registered voters in the city. so that should be about 51,325 valid signatures for each board member.

Other board members Jenny Lam, Mark Sanchez and Kevine Boggess and Matt Alexander, will not be able to face a recall until June. 

California has been happy to kick out school board members over the last decade -- 25 have been removed in a recall vote, 7 have resigned, one has been kicked out by the board and only 6 survived a recall vote.

California: Assemblyman Kevin Kiley joins recall race

Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R) from Placer County, who has published a book called "RECALL NEWSOM: The Case Against America's Most Corrupt Governor" is running in the replacement race. He is apparently the fifth Kevin in the race and is a fierce critical of Newsom.

Washington: Petitioners claim to have 9000 signatures in Seattle City Council member

Petitioners claim they have over 9000 signatures for the recall of Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant (the first socialist elected to Seattle's council in 100 years). Petitioners would need 10,739 signatures by October 19 to get on the ballot. They are hoping for August 1 so they can get the November election date.

Washington is also a "malfeasance standard/judicial recall state" though the State Supreme Court upheld a lower court judge ruling approving the recall effort. Two of the six charges were dismissed sat the lower level. Sawant would be the first councilmember to face a recall in Seattle's history (though two Mayors were kicked out).

The recall effort was over a kitchen sink of complaints, including revealing the mayor's home address, giving decision-making authority to Socialist Alternative (which has been a complaint against her before, though it was dismissed by the Ethics and Election Commission), promoting a ballot initiative, letting protesters in City Hall after hours and helping to create a criminal environment.

Oregon: Ontario City Councilor kicked out in overwhelming recall vote

Big vote against Ontario City Councilmember Freddy Rodriguez, who lost 1789-216, with only 28% turnout. Petitioners needed 493 valid signatures to get on the ballot. Rodriguez has had restraining orders for domestic violence filed against him and was the target of recall efforts before. In Oregon, there is no replacement race, so there will be an appointment. 

California: LA Times looks back at the Dianne Feinstein recall

Here's the LA Times' Mark Barabak on the 1983 Dianne Feinstein recall, which is the best case scenario for Newsom (well, that an North Dakota Governor Lynn Frazier).

California: PPIC Poll suggests that pro-Recall voters more engaged

PPIC, which has found that the recall effort is lagging with only 40% of the vote, notes that there is a 15% gap in how closely people are following the recall.  People in favor of removal are following the recall more closely 27% very, 46% fairly) than those who want to keep Newsom (17% very, 41% fairly). 

Colorado: New recall effort launched against Secretary of State

A new recall effort has been started against Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D) by the same people who are trying to put a recall against Governor Jared Polis (D) on the ballot. The recall is focused on the false complaints about the November election, focused on a June 17 announcement by Griswold of emergency rules for voting systems, which is seen as a way to stop the third-party "audits" plaguing Arizona. There is also complaints about the Dominion Voting Systems. 

The Griswold recall is handled by the Auditor's Office (because of the natural conflict of interest for the Secretary of State's Office).  Petitioners would need 623,159 signatures for Griswold (and 631,266 for Polis).