Michigan: Three Benton Harbor officials facing petitions

Petitions have been taken out against Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad and Commissioners SaTanna Warren and Sharon Henderson. The recalls are filed by different petitioners and there seems to be a difference with one of them. Muhammad and Warren are facing the threat over their vote to approve a new city manager. Henderson is over an allegation of violating the merit system of the civil service board. 

Petitions were also taken out against Commissioner Ron Singleton, but were then withdrawn. 

Colorado: Loveland upcoming recall vote without an incumbent to remove

Here's a look at how the Loveland City Council recall will be structured now that the target Troy Krenning has resigned rather than face the March 4 recall election vote. The election will be focused on the replacement vote.

The recall appears to be over votes to remove the City Manager and City Attorney, as well as a rescission, that Krenning claims avoided litigation.

Petitioners needed 1615 signatures to get on the ballot.

Krenning served on the council from 2013-2017 with one of the recall leaders, former Councilmember Dave Clark. 

Texas: Gonzales Councilmember recall scheduled for May 3rd

Gonzales City Councilmember Ronda Miller is facing a May 3rd recall vote, which will take place on a general election day.

There was a significant debate as to whether Miller could vote in the council to schedule the recall (it passed 2-1, so presumably, if she voted it would have failed). The City Attorney noted that she was barred from casting a vote. 

Petitioners handed in 313 signatures and got 276 valids. They needed 260.

Miller seems to be pushing a focus on a lack of grounds in the petition. Her attorney claims the city uses a malfeasance standard and that is not met here. 

Minnesota: My article in the Minnesota Reformer on how the state's recall law works -- and one big question on Minnesota law

With threats to recall all of Minnesota's Democratic House Representatives and one of the Republicans, we could see an historic recall battle up north. But we won't. 

Here's (and above) is my article on how Minnesota's recall law works and why the state has only had two recalls go to the ballot since it adopted this version of the recall in 1996 (with one removal) and two resignations.

In addition to giving a full look at the full use of state legislative recalls in the US, the article looks at how malfeasance standard/judicial recalls work and why Minnesota has a particularly difficult one. There is one thing that I do not go into in the article, but I'll mention below. 

As mentioned in the piece, Minnesota is different than Washington State, another malfeasance standard state. Washington does not have a lot of recalls, but more than Minnesota, and many more are threatened. The difference may be that in Washington, the courts approve or reject the petitions before the full signature gathering starts. Here's where it gets strange. Minnesota's law for state level officials seems to be the same requirement, and occasionally that pre-approval seems to have occurred. But in practice, at least at the local level, the court seems to get involved after the signatures are collected and submitted. There are a number of instances of the "collect the signatures and then have the Supreme Court toss out recall" process. There's also a case in Red Wing where the council refused to schedule the recall and the matter seems to have been dropped (and another one in Blue Harbor without the signature verification). 

I don't know why Minnesota practice and law appear to be different at least for state and local officials, but it feels like this a critical question for recalls in the state. 

Minnesota: Petitions taken out against GOP House Representative

Another State legislative recall effort has been taken out against a Minnesota legislator, this time on the GOP side. Petitions have been taken out against House Representative Duane Quam (R) 

So far, no one has taken credit, though a progressive group seems to be supporting it over the reverse of the Democratic recall efforts (that they shouldn't have been allowed to meet without the quorum). 

This appears to be the only petitions that have actually been started according to the Secretary of State offices. 

Wisconsin: Signatures handed in against Wrightstown School Board President

Signatures have been filed against Wrightstown School Board President Angela Hansen-Winker over claims that she misused legal counsel and mishandled a superintendent investigation.

Fellow school board member Rayn Warner is leading the recall effort.

Petitioners allegedly handed in 1200 signatures. No word on how many are needed.

Montana: Choteau Mayor resigns in face of recall threats

Choteau Mayor Chris Hindoien resigned in the face of a recall effort, though it is not clear how serious the effort was. He has also moved out of town, so he needed to resign. He was in his sixth year as mayor, and the recall seemed to be about ending a law enforcement services contract, issues with the volunteer fire department and the departure of some of the appointed officials. 

Nebraska: Two Bartley Trustees ousted

Two Bartley Trustees Cori Hage and Dave Wineland. were ousted in a February 11 special election recall votes, both by 100-15 margins (3 ballots are outstanding).

It sounds like a number of other board members resigned (there are five in total).

The recall was over a $1.1 million renovation project, including maintenance and purchasing a building for the library and office and conference spaces, as well as the firing of a full-time maintenance manager (who is back at the job).

The village's population has fallen from 355 in 2000 to 270 in 2020. Petitioners handed in 40 signatures and needed 28. 

Ohio: Petitions taken out against Piketon Mayor

Petitions appears to have been taken out against Piketon Mayor Billy Spencer and perhaps other trustees following a vote to rescind the annexation of the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant.

Nebraska: McCool Junction board member recall ousted

McCool Junction Village Board member Patricia Wagner was ousted in a February 11 special election (all mail ballot) vote, 77-47. 

The recall was over claims of open meeting violations and abusive talk.

California: Recalled Oakland Mayor accused of illegally voting on council matters

Interesting discussion here, as former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is accused of casting tie-breaking votes on two controversial matters on December 17th, despite the fact that her recall had been certified on December 5th. 

The ordinances removed a requirement that small businesses be headquartered in Oakland to qualify for city benefits and reduced the banking of rent increases by rental housing owners, while imposing new eviction limitations. 

North Dakota: Proposal looks to change local recall law, including raising signature requirements

Following 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. 

Senator Kristin Roers introduced 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).

The timeframe for a recall effort would be one year for state level officials and 90 days for others. 

Ohio: Signatures handed in against seven Maumee officials

Signatures have been handed in against seven Maumee officials, Mayor James MacDonald and Councilmember Josh Harris, Jon Fiscus, Ted Kurt, Gabriel Barrow, Scott Noonan and Margo Puffenberger. 

The recall appears to be complaints about transparency, distrust and how the city sewer problems have been handled. 

Almost 14000 signatures total were handed in (not sure about the breakdown). If it gets to the ballot, the recall would be held on Primary Day, September 9th. 

Texas: No signatures handed in against Killeen Mayor and three Councilmembers

No signatures were handed in the recall effort against four Killeen elected officialsMayor Debbie Nash-King and Councilmembers Jose Segarra, Riakos Adams and Ramon Alvarez. 

The recall is over development issues, specifically a rezoning of a road that could add 300 new homes. 

The lead petitions is former councilmember Melissa Brown. Brown previously ran against Nash-King for the mayor, but lost. It sounds like they need about 1200 signatures. 

Killeen Councilmember Michael Boyd is already facing a recall vote on May 5, 2025. Note that the recall would take place on the same day as the regularly scheduled election, which could result in Boyd facing a recall and reelection at the same time. 

The recall seems to be part of an ongoing fight, though the petitioner mentions (among many other things) a vote in favor of a new City Hall and 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."

The recall effort against Councilmember Jessica Gonzalez failed. They handed in 270 and needed 246 (50% of registereds). No word on how many were rejected. 

North Dakota: Recall threats discussed against State Representative

There's some discussion of a recall effort against State Representative Nico Rios (R), who has been condemned for anti-Semitic social media post.

Rios previously faced resignation pressure after he made allegedly made racist and homophobic comments following a DUI arrest. 

Rios is quoted as saying: "If I wasn't recalled for my DUI, I don't see how I could be recalled for this during the session."

Petitioners would need 1,173 signatures to get a recall on the ballot.

Arizona: Mesa Councilmember facing petitions

Mesa Council member Julie Spilsbury is facing a recall effort. The stated issues were a vote to convert a hotel to an emergency homeless shelter and earlier votes for raises for elected officials and an increase in utility rates. 

Spilsbury, a Republican who endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, has stated that the effort is a partisan move by conservatives. 

Petitioners need 3070 valid signatures by May 30. 

Korea: Recall Election law proposed for National Assembly members

Here

Arizona: Nogales Councilmember facing recall effort

Nogales City Councilmember Saulo Bonilla is facing a recall effort over complaints about aggressive behavior. 

California: San Bernardino Councilmember facing petitions

Petitions have been taken out against San Bernardino Councilmember Theodore Sanchez is facing a recall effort over complaints about unaddressed issues and ties to the former mayor.

Petitioners need 897 signatures to get to the ballot.