Ohio: East Cleveland Mayor, who survived two recall votes, indicted along with recalled and removed Councilmember

East Cleveland Mayor Mayor Brandon King, who survived recall votes in both 2022 and 2023, was indicted on a host of corruption charges, along with East Cleveland Councilman Ernest Smith, who was removed in a 2022 recall vote. 

The recalls, which involved numerous twists and turns, were over a kitchen sink of complaints, including a budget deficit, indicted police, corruption and "tall grass." The indictment claims that King authorized city contracts and payments to his own and his family's business. He also was accused of giving a car and gas card to Smith.

King first stepped into the position in a recall of then-Mayor Gary Norton.

Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish Coroner recall effort fails

The recall effort against St. Tammany Parish Coroner Christopher Tape failed, with petitioners not handing in any signatures. They needed 35,057 by October 14. They claim they missed by 10,000 (but that doesn't mean much).

The recall was over sex abuse allegations that were dismissed in 2003 over a claim of a violation of a right to a speedy trial. Tape was fired by the previous coroner over claims of violating the confidentiality policy.

Taiwan: Keelung City Mayor recall survives recall vote

Keelung City Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (KMT) survived the recall vote with 44.8%-55.1% of voters casting ballots against a recall. Turnout was high, with 156,776 our of 310,797 coming out to vote. 

Kuo-liang is facing criticism over a scandal involving a commercial property at the harbor, and claims that he did this to benefit the family of his ex-girlfriend. 

The strategy is different than most Taiwan recalls. Taiwan currently has a "absentee veto" requirement (25% must turnout for the recall to count). Frequently, the elected officials supporters will simply not go out to vote, thereby depriving them of meeting the requirement. The KMT is looking to change the law to 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. From the way the article is written, it could be that such a change was made, but I haven't seen such a change.

Arizona: South Tucson Mayor, former Recall loser, launches recall against three councilmembers

Interesting fight here -- Petitions have been taken out against South Tucson City Council members Roxanna Valenzuela, Brian Flagg and Cesar Aguirre over claims that Valenzuela does not meet the residency requirement and the other two helped cover it up. 

The leader of the recall effort is South Tucson Mayor Paul Diaz, 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).

Diaz lost a recall vote in 2015 and then came back in 2018 with a recall against other councilmembers and regained the mayoralty.

California: Oakland Mayoral recall campaign heads into final stretch; Oakland NAACP backs recall effort

The recall effort against Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is also heading into the homestretch, with a focus on the claim that the recall is "anti-democratic" (obviously, we object and it is instead "Raw Democracy")

The Oakland NAACP has come out backing the recall due to the firing of the police chief (for whatever it's worth, the Northern California NAACP came out in opposition to the Alameda DA recall).

Also of interest, Thao failed to fill out her statement against the recall effort, so that will not appear on the ballot. This has happened before in other jurisdictions, but obviously a bit strange.

California: Battle heats up in Alameda County District Attorney recall -- reports of big debt from pro-Recall forces

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price recall fight is now facing the last big push, though honestly, I've only seen the pro-Price "vote no" signs (and not an enormous amount, but some) and haven't received any mail either way, so it is unclear why neither side seems to be going all out. There are reports that the Pro-Recall forces are $700,000 in the hole. 

Congressman Eric Swalwell (D) has come out in favor of the recall and Price hit back. 

Washington: Three Eastsound Water Users Association members ousted; Four survive

Eastsound Water Users Association Directors Jim Cook, Ron Claus and Carol Ann Anderson were kicked out in a September 28 recall. Four directors, Teri Nigretto, James Nelson, Leith Templin and Michael Cleveland all survived the vote. The recall seems to be over claims of obstruction from viewing records as well as general mismanagement.

Colorado: Aguilar Mayor Ousted; Trustee resigns

Aguilar Mayor Donald Gonzalez was ousted in an August 6th recall, 97-36. Trustee Marc Piano resigned before the special election vote. The issue seems to be years of delinquent audits and budgets, and payments for the reservoir project. Gonzalez has been in office since 2022.

Erlinda Encinias won the replacement race over Daner McCullough 60-36.

Nebraska: Three Winslow Trustees survive recall votes

Winslow Trustees Zachary Klein (15-20), Jeremey Woodring (15-20) and Shawn Kotik (13-21) all survived a May 14 Primary Day recall vote. The recall was launched by another board member over claims that the three were not residents. This appears to be part of a larger story, where the town of Winslow was moved to get it out of a flood plain.

Maine: Three Milo Select Board members resign

Milo Select Board members Eric Foss, Susan Libby and Donald Banker all resigned in May in the face of a recall effort.

The recalls were over a conversation that they had in the hall (which was caught on tape) where they discuss personnel, including a push to remove the city manager. Under city rules, the meeting was a violation of the Open Meeting Act. 

Petitioners would need 10% of registered voters.

Georgia: Bowman City Council recalls thrown out by judge

From earlier in the year, but two Bowman Councilmembers, Betty Jo Maxwell and Leah Carey, had a recall make the ballot, but was thrown out because a judge ruled that the claims did not meet the state's malfeasance standard grounds.

The issue was approval of poultry houses.

 

California: Petitions taken out against Fair Oaks Water District Board members

Petitions have been taken out against Fair Oaks Water District board members Christian Petersen and Michael McRae. Seems like this one may be about water rates (as with most water district recalls). 

Maine: Petitions taken out against Arundel's RSU 21 School Board member

Petitions have been taken out against Arundel's RSU 21 School Board member Kristin Shapiro over claims about behavior, though the precipitating event seems to be that she is also on the contract negotiations committee (with a contract currently in mediation), which has led to tensions between teachers and the board. 

Petitioners need 231 signatures (10% of gubernatorial turnout) in 14 days. 

In 2022, Kennebunk had a recall against school board member Tom Stentiford, which he survived. Contract negotiations were also a major part of that recall.

California: Q&A with Oaklandside on the Mayoral recall

Here's my deep dive Q&A interview with Eli Wolfe of Oaklandside on the Oakland Mayoral recall.

Alaska: Two Juneau School Board members survive reclal vote

Juneau Board of Education President Deedie Sorensen (2062-4091) and VP Emil Mackey (2175-3982) appeared to survive their October 1 recall votes, which took place at the same time as the municipal election. 

The recall is officially 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.

Louisiana: Petitions taken out against Shreveport Councilmember

Shreveport Councilmember Gary Brooks is facing a recall effort. The claim is that he is unresponsive. 

New York: Oped on Would a recall law help NYC with its Mayoral scandal

Here's my New York Daily News op-ed on the recall law and the Mayor Eric Adams scandal (and here it is on NY1).

Ballotpedia looks at biggest recall states

Here's Ballotpedia's look at the top recall states by attempts, with California, Michigan and Colorado topping the list. I believe that in terms of actual recalls making the ballot (leading to a vote or a resignation), Michigan easily tops the list, with California and Oregon close together.

Michigan: Flint Councilmember dies, was facing recall vote on Election Day

If Flint's recalls could not getting any stranger, Flint Councilmember Quincy Murphy, who was facing a recall effort on Election Day, November 5, 2024, has died. The recall will still be on the ballot, but the results will not count. The other recall fights have not made the ballot.

California: How the 2024 presidential race is similar to the 2003 California gubernatorial recall

Here's Los Angeles Times columnist Mark Barabak making the comparison. 

Michigan: 8 petitions taken out against Flint Mayor

Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley was hit with eight different recall petitions, some over the water issues and others over a golf course negotiation. There were previous attempts against Neeley that did not go anywhere. 

Flint has been the source of many recalls in recent years, and was going to have one on the ballot on Election Day in November, but the councilmember died. 

Op-ed in the Chicago Tribune on the history and patterns of voter turnout

Here's my op-ed in the Chicago Tribune on what I expect to be a turnout drop in the election in 2024, regardless of candidates and issues. Could certainly impact recalls.

Washington: Judge tosses out Spokane County Commissioner recall effort

The recall effort against Spokane County Commissioner Al French (R) has been tossed out, both for happening too close to an election (the recall cannot be within six months of an election) and for failing to meet the malfeasance standard.

The recall was over claims of a coverup about PFAS (so-called "forever chemicals") contamination of the drinking water. French is currently running for his fifth term, so it the recall would have to taken place between the General Election and the next term in January or wait till the next term starts.

Washington is a malfeasance standard/judicial recall state, so a judge had to sign off on the effort as meeting the statutorily delineated reasons before it can move forward. Petitioners would have needed 11,535 signatures.