Missouri: Recall of Jackson County Executive/All-Star Royals 2nd Baseman scheduled for August 26th

Jackson County has scheduled the upcoming recall election against Jackson County Executive Frank White, former Royals former All-Star 2nd Baseman and member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for August 26th. 

White could try to veto the decision, but that seems irrelevant.

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.

Apparently, White has only attended one of 29 meetings this year.

Petitioners got 43011 valid signature and needed 42902. It sounded like over 80,000 signatures had been handed in. At one point, the pro-recall group said they need (or needed -- I'm not clear) to raise $150,000 to get the petitioners to hand it in. This appears to be a separate group handing in the signatures that raise the total to 80,000. It is not clear how that worked.

Three legislators have asked the Attorney General for an investigation into White. White has accused one legislator of illegally using staff to help with the recall. 

The recall is estimated to cost $2 million, though frequently those numbers change. 

Ohio: Cleveland Height Mayor recall scheduled for September 9

The recall election of Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren has been scheduled for September 9, the same day as the primary. The City Council also noted that the Mayor cannot use the social media account for political messaging. 

Petitioners said they handed in 4425 signatures and apparently got 3845 valids. They needed 2900. Approximately 500 were invalidated.

It was previously announced that Seren had failed to make the ballot for a reelection race,  he needed 342 signatures but was 39 short (a number of petitioners had signed other petitions as well). 

The recall is over claims that his wife has allegedly made numerous anti-Semitic comments against city employees and other officials and a civil rights complaint filed against him. Seren is also being faulted for a high turnover rate and failed budget process.

California: Poway Councilmember facing renewed recall effort

Poway Councilmember Tony Blain is facing a renewed recall push, with Mayor Steven Vaus calling for his removal. 

Blain first faced a recall effort after his censure for claims of an attempted vote trade. There are also complaints of bullying, harassment, retaliation and bribery, with a particularly strong response from the City Attorney. Blain argues that contractors and developers are leading the effort. Petitioners need 2500 signatures to get to the ballot.

Poway recalled councilmember Betty Rexford in 2010. 

Maine: Lisbon Councilor resigns, Council Chair facing petitions

Lisbon Council Chair Fern Larochelle is facing petitions, and petitions were taken out against Councilor Jeremy Barnard, who then resigned. 

Petitioners are claiming financial and ethical neglect, specifically a 60% increase in municipal expenditures as well as unnamed conflict of interest issues.

Larochelle has been in office for nearly 20 years.

California: San Francisco Supervisor raises 3X opponents in recall, though faces significant challenges

Supporters of San Francisco Supervisor Joel Engardio have raised over $536,000 to battle against the recall, which is three times more than the opponents. However, this article and others note that Engradio is facing significant challenges, including the fact that he won office by 469 votes. 

The recall election is scheduled for September 16. 

The recall is over the Engardio's support for the passage of Prop. K, which will lead to a new park and the closing of the Great Highway. 

Proposition K passed with 56% of the vote, but in Engardio's district, the vote was 63.7% opposed, so real risk. 

Petitioners handed in 10,985 signatures, with 10.523 valid. They needed 9911. 

The validity rate was 95.8%. It's not clear why they did a full count. They previously announced a 99,3% validity rate, when they checked 549 checked signature using the randomg sampling method. That would suggest that they didn't need to check each one. 

Petitioners handed supposedly collected over 14000, which appears to mean that they did a great job of checking them over (they may have handed in another 300 additional ones).

Here's my last look at signature verification rates for other large recall events.

The lead petition resigned from the role over debates about spending -- reportedly, the campaign has spent over $100,000 for signature collection and is looking to put in some more, though they are in debt. Engardio has a 4-1 advantage in funds. 

Taiwan: DPP looks to temper expectations in upcoming recall vote

The Democratic Progressive Party is trying to temper expectations in the recall campaign, after President Lai Ching-Te suggested that up to 15 Kuomintang legislators could be ousted. 

Recalls against 24 legislators from the Kuomintang Party made the July 26th ballot, as well as Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao. The mass recall campaign was launched by the Democratic Progressive Party against 41 members of the Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party, and the DPP faced numerous recalls, leading to efforts against 79 legislators. Two efforts against DPP members are outstanding.

The recalls started after the KMT passed laws targeting the Constitutional Court, the budget and looking to change the recall act itself. 

The Kao recall is suspended following a corruption investigation.

Here's an editorial looking into what the numbers mean, including the fact that the KMT need to lose more than 6 seats to lose their majority.

Missouri: Jackson County Executive/All-Star Royals 2nd Baseman Recall makes the ballot; possibly scheduled for August 26th

The recall effort against Jackson County Executive Frank White, former Royals former All-Star 2nd Baseman and member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, has made the ballot and looks to be scheduled for August 26th. 

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.

Petitioners got 43011 valid signature and needed 42902. It sounded like over 80,000 signatures had been handed in. At one point, the pro-recall group said they need (or needed -- I'm not clear) to raise $150,000 to get the petitioners to hand it in. This appears to be a separate group handing in the signatures that raise the total to 80,000. It is not clear how that worked.

Three legislators have asked the Attorney General for an investigation into White. White has accused one legislator of illegally using staff to help with the recall. 

The recall is estimated to cost $2 million, though frequently those numbers change. 

Oregon: House Representative facing petitions

Oregon House Representative Cyrus Javadi (R) is facing a  recall threat led by a former conservative supporter. The focus appears to be Javadi's support for a bill on access for library books and LGBTQ+ issues. 

Petitioners would need over 5400 signatures (15% of gubernatorial turnout) by September 24.

Texas: Signatures handed in against La Marque Councilmember

Signatures have been handled in against La Marque Councilmember Joseph Lowry. Petitioners handed in 268 signatures and need 191. 

The claim is misconduct that includes multiple city council censures over harassment. Lowry previously led recall efforts in 2022 against Mayor Keith Bell and Councilmember Kimberley Yancy. The recall effort against Bell went to the ballot, though he survived the vote. 

Arizona: Mesa Councilmember recall makes the ballot, set for November 4th

The recall election against Mesa Council member Julie Spilsbury has made the ballot, and will be held on November 4 (apparently tied in with the general election.

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, and the leader of the effort was backed by Turning Point USA. Petitioners also mentioned transgender and DEI issues.

Petitioners handed in over 5235 signatures in the recall effort and got 3858 valid. They needed 3070 valid signatures.

The last council recall was almost 50 years ago.

California: Stockton Mayor facing recall threats

Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi is facing recall threats over issues of a city manager search and claims of Brown Act violations. Fugazi wished the proposed petitioners good luck, noting her performance in the last election.

Petitioners would need about 17000 signatures to get on the ballot.

Nebraska: Petitions taken out against Valley Mayor and City Council President

Petitions have been taken out against Valley Mayor Cindy Grove and Council President John Batcher over a kitchen sink of complaints such as violations of open meeting laws. 

Petitioners needed 689 signatures for Grove and 367 for Batcher in 30 days.

Nebraska: Scotts Bluff Commissioner recall makes the ballot

The recall of Scotts Bluff County Commissioner Charlie Knapper has made the ballot. The recall is over alleged issues with a county employee. Knapper says the recall is over unregulated solar farms, opposition to sports tourism and older officials.

Petitioners handed in 710 valid signatures and needed 595.

Colorado: Recall of Creede Mayor and Board Trustee makes the ballot

The recall effort against Creede Mayor Jeffrey Larson and Board Trustee Lori Dooley has made the ballot. 

The issues seem to be a town manager employment agreement (who did not live in the town), a water and sewer rate increase; and complaints about a lack of participation at meeting.

Petitioners handed in 55 signatures for Larson, 37 were validated and 25 were needed. 55 were handed in for Dooley, with 44 valids and 32 needed.

Ballotpedia reports drop in recall attempts for first half of 2025

Ballotpedia is reporting that the first half of 2025 has the lowest number of recall attempts since 2020, a year that in the end had a fairly standard number of recall attempts (though, due to COVID, a significant drop in those that made the ballot). One fact to note is that odd number years usually see a drop in recalls. I discuss that phenomena here in 2019:

This see-sawing does fit with a general pattern. Recalls are more likely in the even numbered national election years (presidential or Congress), rather than in the odd numbered years. This may seem somewhat counterintuitive (as some of these officials are facing the voters that year anyway), but there are practical reasons. I’ve mentioned these before, but here it is again:

1. The lock-up or grace periods – many jurisdictions have a period where officials are exempt from facing a recall or (in some cases) even having petitions taken out against them. This period can range from three months to a year after their term begins (which is usually in January). Since so many officials are elected in even-year elections, there is less chance to get a recall on the ballot.
    
2. Consolidation – states are frequently required to consolidate recalls with the next primary or general election, thereby obviating the need and expense of a special election. Michigan, one of the leading recall states, changed its law in 2012 to consolidate elections. The result is that a number of recalls are pushed off until 2020.
   
3. Operator error -- I'm fairly certain that I missed recalls. I've compared it to other available sources (the good people at Ballotpedia have done an excellent job of compiling data), but there is no question that recalls are not being counted. However, I like to think that I've at least maintained my existing level of incompetency, and any errors this year would probably be roughly the same as last year.
   
4. Paywalls -- Newspapers and websites are increasingly behind paywalls. Local sites that are critical to doing this research (there is no state or local governmental reporting) on recalls seem to be failing at an increased rate. I think the closing off of the web may make it harder to see recalls and reports of recalls. I can't say that it is the real factor though.

One factor that I had previously considered is that there was a drop-off in political interest and enthusiasm in off-years. While this is possibly, I do find it somewhat unlikely in our current political climate.

Missouri: Petitioners move closer to recall of Jackson County Executive/All-Star Royals 2nd Baseman

The signature totals for Jackson County Executive Frank White -- (yes, the Royals former All-Star 2nd Baseman), is creeping closer to success, as the board has verified 42,671 signatures, They need 42,902 valids to get on the ballot.

It sounds like over 80,000 signatures have been handed in, though no word on how many have been rejected.  

At one point, the pro-recall group said they need (or needed -- I'm not clear) to raise $150,000 to get the petitioners to hand it in. This appears to be a separate group handing in the signatures that raise the total to 80,000. It is not clear how that worked.

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

Ohio: Cleveland Height Mayor recall makes the ballot

The recall of Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren has made the ballot, with petitioners getting 3845 valid signatures. They needed 2900. Approximately 500 were invalidated. The recall would be held on be September 9, the same day as the primary.

It was previously announced that Seren had failed to make the ballot for a reelection race,  he needed 342 signatures but was 39 short (a number of petitioners had signed other petitions as well). 

The recall is over claims that his wife has allegedly made numerous anti-Semitic comments against city employees and other officials and a civil rights complaint filed against him. Seren is also being faulted for a high turnover rate and failed budget process.

Oregon: Deschutes County Sheriff resigns in face of recall effort

Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp has resigned in the face of a recall effort. 

Petitioners, who seem to be deputies in the office, are unhappy with the delayed time-frame of the resignation (which would be July 31st). The recall was over claims of abuse of authority and misconduct.

Arkansas: Helena West-Helena Mayor facing petitions

Helena-West Helena Mayor Christopher Franklin Sr. is facing a recall effort over his arrest and charges of failing to file taxes in four of the past five years. 

The City Council has called for his resignation over a  "profanity-laden video call" between members that went viral. 

Not sure how many signatures are needed to get the recall on the ballot.

Kenya: Senators debating adopting recall law

Here (alas, behind a paywall).

Colorado: Loveland Councilmember recall makes the ballot

The recall effort against Loveland Councilmember Erin Black appears to have made the ballot, with petitioners handing in over 1322 valids. No word on scheduling yet. 

The recall was over 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 Police Chief also claimed that he was discriminated against by Black.

The council is calling for her resignation.

Loveland has had a good deal of recall efforts recently.

Update: Black is contesting the petitions.

Texas: Recalls of three Kingsville Commissioners makes the ballot

The recall effort against three Kingsville City Commissioners, Norma Nelda Alvarez, Hector Hinojosa and Leo Alarcon, has made the ballot. 

The recall seems to be over a battle last year between the commissioners and the mayor over who would serve as mayor pro tem. 

No word on all the numbers, but in one case, petitioners handed in 292 valids and needed 282.

Taiwan: Recalls against 24 legislators and Hsinchu Mayor makes the July 26th ballot

The Taiwan recall fight is now a go, as recalls against 24 legislators from the Kuomintang Party, as well as Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao will face an election on July 26. The mass recall campaign was launched by the Democratic Progressive Party against 41 members of the Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party, and the DPP faced numerous recalls, leading to efforts against 79 legislators. Two efforts against DPP members are oustanding.

The recalls started after the KMT passed laws targeting the Constitutional Court, the budget and looking to change the recall act itself. 

The Kao recall is suspended following a corruption investigation.

Here's an editorial looking into what the numbers mean, including the fact that the KMT need to lose more than 6 seats to lose their majority.