California: Recall of Anaheim City Council member make June 4 ballot

The recall of Anaheim City Council member Natalie Rubalcava has made the ballot and been scheduled for June 4. 

Petitioners handed in  9118 signatures, they needed 5123. The clerk checked 7693 and found 5131 valids (presumably they stopped once they were over the line), so a 66.7% valid rate. 

The recall was started after a public corruption investigation report was released. The corruption claim is based on a chamber of commerce created data mining operation that allegedly gave Rubalcava a list of names and contact info taken from community outreach groups. She is also accused of giving operational direction to city staff rather than the city manager. Rubalcava was elected in 2022, and Support our Anaheim Resort, a Disney PAC, was a big supporter. The Unite Here union, which has been fighting for a $25 minimum wage, has been a major opponent of Rubalcaya.

Ohio: Buckeye Lake Mayor kicked out in February 27 recall

Buckeye Lake Mayor Jeryne Peterson was kicked out in a recall vote 229-73 (as a special election). Interestingly, the language for the recall question was "Shall Jeryne Peterson be allowed to continue as mayor?" So a no means remove. Usually, a yes is a removal (Shall Gavin Newsom be recalled (removed) from the office of Governor?). No idea why that is. 

The recall seems to be about a host of complaints, "resignations from village employees, unanimous censure and no-confidence votes from village council, a fight with the village solicitor and a lawsuit alleging discrimination filed by a local hotel against the village mayor and police officials." 

The Ohio Supreme Court previously rejected an attempt to throw out the recall over Peterson's claim that the original submission did not have enough signatures and petitioners refiled (as allowed by the charter) in a cure petition 10 days later. Peterson is claiming that the deadline wasn't met. Peterson won office with 30% of the vote in 2021. Petitioners handed in 265 valid signatures and needed 252. They originally got 246 valids. Peterson has said that the entire council signed the petitions.

Wisconsin: Raymond School Board Member survives recall vote

Raymond School Board Member Jannell Wise has survived a recall vote, 584-485. The recall seems to be over the firing of a principal. The principal claims he was fired because he is gay.

Former School Board Member, Gwen Keller resigned before the vote, though she was also replaced by a fellow conservative.

Colorado: Petitions taken out against District Attorney for 8th Judicial District

Petitions have been taken out against 8th Judicial District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin (Larimer and Jackson Counties). Petitioner is the parent of a bus employee who was killed in an accident when a co-worker ran him over. Petitioner claims that the driver should have been charged with careless driving.

Petitioner would need 52,858 signatures in 60 days. A recall is estimated to cost $834K. 

North Dakota: Controversial ballot measure revamping voting laws would lower signature requirements for recalls

A proposed initiative that would radically change North Dakota voting laws (including making ballots handed counted, no early voting or mail voting, allowing any citizen to examine ballots) would also make recalls easier. 

It would lower the signature requirement from 25% of turnout for governor in the jurisdiction to 10% (which would possibly be the lowest in the country). It also bans signature strike laws (so a signer could not remove their name), 

California: New recall attempt filed against California Governor

Another recall attempt has been filed against California Governor Gavin Newsom, this time focused on the budget deficit and Newsom's role as a campaign surrogate for President Joe Biden. This is the seventh attempt filed against Newsom (including the recall he defeated). 

Unsurprisingly, Jerry Brown is the California State Record holder, with 12 (including AG recall attempts). The Duke (Deukmejian) had 11, Wilson had 8, Schwarzenegger had 7. The immortal Cuthbert Olsen had 5, Pat Brown 3 and Gray Davis only had 3. Supreme Court Chief Justice Rose Bird had 9 -- but was kicked out in retention election, not a recall.

Michigan: Flint Council President recall fails, with too many signatures tossed

The recall effort against Flint Council President Ladel Lewi has failed, as petitioners handed in 1099 signatures and needed 751. They got 629 valids, (strangely they originally had 574 -- not clear what happened).

An earlier effort said petitioners missed out by 63 signatures. 1022 were handed in and 722 were validated. They needed 785. However, the clerk's office originally misplaced six pages, which led to a second count and the close numbers. 

Previously, the recall of Flint Councilmember Eva Worthing has gotten on the ballot, as petitioners handed in 546 valid signatures and needed 510. 

There have also been attempted recalls against Dennis Pfeiffer, Eric Mays and Judy Priestley (with two filed against Priestly). Herkenroder already announced that she is resigning her seat. No word on the other efforts.

The recall is over claims that Mays and another councilmember called a meeting that they others did not attend over the question of applying for a community grant program funding. Mays has also been charged with disorderly conduct for conduct at the council meetings that has apparently gone viral.

Washington: Court throws out Ione Mayor and Council member recall after lead petition found not to live in city

A Washington Superior Court judge has rejected a recall attempt against Ione Mayor Eva Marie Warren and City Council member Michael Shipley because the lead petition, Councilmember Michael Piccirilli, was ruled to no longer lives in Ione, which has led to his voter registration being revoked. Piccirilli has refused to resign.

There was also an attempt against Councilmember Ken Timmerick, but Timmerick resigned in December over travel plans.

The recall was over an alleged attempt to hold a vote over email. 

Washington, DC: Second Councilmember facing petitions

Washington, D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau is facing a recall effort over rising crime issues. Petitioners need 10% of registereds to get on the ballot. 

This is the second recall effort against Washington, DC City Councilmember. Councilmember Charles Allen is also facing a recall effort over crime issues, including his push for criminal justice reform issues that were blocked by Congress and the Biden Administration last year. 

Ohio: Ohio Supreme Court upholds recall against Buckeye Lake Mayor; Scheduled for February 27 recall

The Ohio Supreme Court has rejected Buckeye Lake Mayor Jeryne Peterson's attempt to have her upcoming February 27 recall (special election) thrown out. Peterson's claim is based on the fact that the original submission did not have enough signatures and petitioners refiled (as allowed by the charter) in a cure petition 10 days later. Peterson is claiming that the deadline wasn't met. 

The recall seems to be about a host of complaints, "resignations from village employees, unanimous censure and no-confidence votes from village council, a fight with the village solicitor and a lawsuit alleging discrimination filed by a local hotel against the village mayor and police officials." 

Peterson won office with 30% of the vote in 2021. Petitioners handed in 265 valid signatures and needed 252. They originally got 246 valids. Peterson has said that the entire council signed the petitions.

Massachusetts: New Bedford Mayor proposes recall law

New Bedford Mayor John Mitchell is proposing a recall law for city council members. Petitioners would need signatures from 15% of registereds in 45 days (at large officials need 600 signatures). The recall proposal also has a turnout veto -- 15% of registereds must vote for it to count.

The city looked into such a law in 2017.

Recalls and the debate over Special Elections vs. General Elections

Governing Magazine has published my article on a deep dive into the question of special elections vs. regularly scheduled general elections. At the moment, there's a big debate as to whether specials are an accurate snapshot of the electorate. Since recalls can take place as either a special election or on a regularly scheduled general (or primary) election date, that their numbers are particularly useful. This is an update of an earlier article I wrote on this subject. 

Most people, including me, believed that recalls that take place as standalone special elections are more likely to result in removal. This is wrong -- in fact, recalls taking place on days tied with general elections are more likely to succeed. But not by that much, which puts me in the camp that special elections are a valuable tool in examining the electorate. 

From 2011-2023, I counted 1187 recalls (in 31 states and DC). Another 239 officials resigned in the face of recalls. 729 officials were removed and 458 survived, a 61.4% removal rate. 

40% of recalls were on a general or primary election date, 317 resulted in removal (67%). 712 were as standalone specials, 406 removals (57%). 

When there is a multi-official recall in a jurisdiction, the clean sweep removal rate was 73% on a general election and 60 % for a special (46 of the multi-recall elections saw a split verdict). (Also, compiling that data was took much longer than I would have hoped).

It could be that ballot placement may be part of the reason why the regularly scheduled election recalls see a higher failure rate -- as can be seen by the Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon recall + reelection numbers. 

Michigan: Ypsilanti Councilmember recall makes the May 7th ballot

The recall election of Ypsilanti Council Desirae Simmons made the ballot for May 7th (a regularly scheduled general election date). The recall is over a vote to purchase a $3.7M building, A former Councilmember was the broker of the deal and may make $100,000 on it. 

Former Ypsilanti Planning Commission Chairman Rod Johnson is running as an independent in the replacement race.

Petitioners handed in 747 signatures and needed 603 valids (not yet sure how many failed). . The election would be on May 7th. 

The recall against council member Jennifer Symanns led to her resignation, though petitioners have stopped their effort against Mayor Nicole Brown.

UK: Another Conservative MP facing suspension and potential recall effort

Looks like the UK is set for another recall, as MP Scott Benton (Conservative) is being suspended for telling an undercover reporter he'd break lobbying rules for money. Benton has a 35 day suspension ahead and has already been suspended from the Conservative Party. The seat is a close one, so not a good sign for the Conservatives (Labour has done well in recent recalls). Petitioners would need over 10,000 signatures to get on the ballot.

As with other recalls in UK, a suspension of 10 days from Parliament leads to the ability to start a recall petition. If enough signatures are gathered, the official is automatically removed and a by-election is scheduled. 

California: Signature gathering begins in recall of Oakland Mayor

Signature gathering has started in the recall effort against Oakland Mayor Sheng Tao, with crime issues taking centerstage. Tao has fired the Oakland Police Chief and rejected three possible replacements proposed by a committee. There is discussion about people collecting signatures, but paperwork may not have been submitted (and certainly wasn't approved).

One of the leaders of the recall effort is Alameda County Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte, who served on the Police Commission and was removed by Tao.

Petitioners would need 10% of registered voters, which should be (at the moment) 24,638 signatures.

UK: Labour wins recall race against Conservative MP

Labour has won the replacement race in the recall election against former Conservative MP Peter Bone.

Gen Kitchen (Labour) beat Conservative Helen Harrison, Kitchen won by 6436, which was a major reversal of Bone's 18540 vote victory.

The recall got to the ballot after Bone was suspended for six weeks for sexual misconduct and bullying his staff. As per UK rules the office was vacated and Bone could have run in the replacement race (he did not). Bone had been in office since 2005 and was previously deputy leader of Commons. Petitioners handed in 10505 signatures and needed 7904.

As with other recalls in UK, a suspension of 10 days from Parliament leads to the ability to start a recall petition. If enough signatures are gathered, the official is automatically removed and a by-election is scheduled. 

Nevada: Esmeralda County Clerk facing petition threat

Esmeralda County Clerk LaCinda Elgan is facing petitions from the Esmeralda County Republican Central Committee, over her rejection of a push to have hand counting of all ballots as part of false claims of election fraud from 2020. Elgan has handcounted ballots in the past and found that they lined-up with the machine count. 

Petitioners would need 186 signatures to get on the ballot.  

Texas: New attempt to recall Dickinson Mayor rejected by auditor

Dickinson's auditor ejected a second attempt to get a recall of Dickinson Mayor Sean Skipworth over claims that it didn't meet the specification requirement (a malfeasance standard/judicial recall law) for a recall to be allowed.

The city attorney previously claimed that the recall was invalid after petitioners handed in about 1150 signatures and needed 689 valids (they had 30 days). The City Attorney was said that the petitions did not confirm the number of signatures on each page; questions of who was facing a recall; and a lack of specifications on the recall claims.

The recall is over claims that he "failed to meet fiduciary responsibilities." There are a host of other complaints, including over his support for the hiring a city manager who has faced assault charges.

Skipworth also protested  that the non-city residents are gathering signatures, which violates local laws, though that law itself may violate US law (maybe?). 

Canada: Wetaskiwin Mayor facing petitions

Petitions have been taken out against Wetaskiwin (Alberta) Mayor Tyler Gandam over his support for a homeless shelter.

They have 60 days to get 5038 signatures.

Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish Coroner-elect facing recall effort

St. Tammany Parish Coroner-elect Christopher Tape is facing recall threats 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.

10 years ago, St. Tammany Parish Coroner Peter Galvan resigned during recall efforts over theft.

California: Sunol Glen School Board Members recall signatures due on Tuesday

The recall effort against Sunol Glen School Board Trustees Ryan Jergensen and Linda Hurley) is in its final days, with signatures due on Tuesday.

The recall is after the board voted to limit the school to only flying US or California state flags. The school flew a pride flag during Pride Month. 

Petitioners need 246 signatures to get on the ballot.

Washington, DC: Councilmember recall heating up

The recall effort against Washington, DC City Councilmember Charles Allen is ramping up, with petitioners claiming 500 volunteers and Allen appointing a campaign manager.

The recall effort has raised $54,000. The recall effort over his push for criminal justice reform issues that were blocked by Congress and the Biden Administration last year. 

Petitioners need about 6000 signatures (though I've seen 7500 cited) to get on the ballot. Petitions have not yet been handed out.

California: Donors announced for Shasta County Supervisor recall

The top donors to the recall election for Supervisor Kevin Crye on March 5, 2024 (Primary Day) has been announced. Most notably from a state level is former State Controller and 2026 Gubernatorial candidate Betsy Yee (though she is not a big donor).

The recall got the ballot after petitioners handed in 5104 signatures and 4929 were verified. They need 4151 valids to get on the ballot. Supervisors questioned the small rejection rate.  

The recall is over the vote to cancel a voting systems contract with Dominion Voting and requiring handcounting, which will cost the county millions. This is part of the fight in Shasta and Crye seems to be connected to the far right groups, one of whom led the successful recall of Supervisor Leonard Moty.

Supporters in Shasta County are asking that Governor Gavin Newsom not appoint a replacement if is ousted in a recall and instead allow the voters to choose. Presumably, this could be an issue in the election. As a reminder, in 2022, the state changed the law for local officials who lose a recall election. In that case (unless there is a local law from a charter city), the new law eliminates a replacement election and instead uses an automatic replacement model (with the governor or a specified body making the choice of replacements). The law also explains why there is such a long timeframe until the recall is held (it allows a longer timeframe to tie recalls to general election dates).

Texas: Third Mineral Wells Councilmember recall makes the ballot

A third Mineral Wells Councilmember will be heading to the ballot, as the recall of Carlos Maldonado is set for the May 4 vote. Councilmember Jerrel Tomlin and Mayor Pro Tem Doyle Light has already made the May 4 ballot (Tomlin is up for election on the same day).

The recall is over a water rate hike, which is designed to build a reservoir for the area. 

The leader of the recall, Ron Davis, is running.

Petitioners handed in about 400 signatures. 

Maine: Pittston Selectman recall scheduled for March 18; February 22 hearing on rescinding recall ordinance itself

The recall election against Pittston Selectman Joe Caputo has been scheduled for March 18 (though it took quite a while to get the Selectmen to approve a date). There is also a February 22 hearing on a vote to rescind the Pittston recall ordinance itself.

The recall is about a more hostile environment, turning it "less friendly." There is complaints about the treatment of the road commissioner as well as questions about expenditures. 

There was some question on how the petitions should be addressed (it says that it should be addressed to "those members of the Select Board having no interest in the subject matter of the petition.") Caputo is one of the officials who is on the board and Selectman Jean Ambrose signed the petition. Ambrose' sister started the petition.

Oregon: Super-close King City recall race, with Mayor and three other councilors currently losing

The recall of four King City officials may be going to overtime, as they all are currently losing, but by incredibly close margins. Mayor Jaimie Fender (850-829) and Councilors Kate Mohr (848-839), Smart Ocholi (835-834), Laurie Petrie (851-820), has made the February 13 ballot. 

Petitions were also filed against two other councilors, one of whom, Micha Paulsen, resigned. No signatures were handed in against Marc Manelis after a seeming change of heart.  

The recall is over their vote for a Master Plan and Transportation System Plan, most notably a development plan for Kingston Terrace. One councilor who voted against the Transportation Plan is not facing a recall effort. 

Update: This is going to a recount, with new numbers still showing all losing (Petrie, 901-859; Fender 895-871; Ocholi, 882-864; and Mohr, 892-851).

Colorado: Ebert Metropolitan District Treasurer kicked out in recall vote

Ebert Metropolitan District Treasurer Murray Hawthorne was ousted in a recall vote 838-188. Khadija Haynes appears to have won the replacement race with 805 votes. 

The petition claimed verbal abuse and physical intimidation as the reason for the recall.

Arizona: Petitions continue against Prescott Mayor

Petitioners claim they are on track for the recall of Prescott Mayor Phil Goode over the resignation of the City Manager, more closed-door sessions, and existing development agreements. It seems that the airport is the big debate in the city. They need 3248 signatures.

Washington: Petitions filed against Ione Mayor and Council members

Petitions have been filed against Mayor Eva Marie Warren and City Council member Michael Shipley and Ken Timmerick. Timmerick has since resigned in December over travel plans.

The recall was filed by Councilmember Michael Piccirilli, who has been found to no longer lives in Ione, which has led to his voter registration being revoked (and which may kill the recall).

The recall is over an alleged attempt to hold a vote over email. 

Canada: Petitions taken out against Donalda Mayor

Petitions have been taken out against Donalda Mayor Douglas Booker. Petitioners need 88 signatures in 60 days to get on the ballot.

Michigan: Petitions taken out against Highland Park Mayor

Highland Park Mayor Glenda McDonald is facing a recall effort over complaints about improper use of police officers as a chauffeur and an increase in utility bills after a water agreement. The agreement ended a long running dispute with the Great Lakes Water Authority. Petitioners would need about 500 signatures. 

The recall leader helped kick McDonald's opponent off the ballot in 2022, leading to her winning unopposed. 

Update: The language has been approved

Minnesota: Blaine City Council rejects charter amendment on recall

Blaine's City Council has rejected a charter amendment to adopt new recall laws for mayors and councilmember. Only one member voted against it, but the law must pass unanimously. The law can still be adopted by a ballot measure.

Blaine already has a judicial recall/malfeasance standard, is looking to change its recall rules a bit -- seemingly tightening the rules to remove nonfeasance (and making it about malfeasance that occurred while they are in office).  The city (which doesn't seem to have any recall efforts of note), will give 30 days to collect signatures of 20% of registered voters

Minnesota: Columbia Heights Councilmember recall stopped by Minnesota Supreme Court

The Minnesota Supreme Court has thrown out the recall election against Columbia Heights Councilmember Kay (K.T.) Jacobs  due to the state's Malfeasance Standard (Judicial Recall Standard). The full decision will come out later.

The recall was scheduled for February 13, 2024.

The recall was over claims that Jacobs made inappropriate racial comments to another councilmember when he was running for office (She questioned whether he was really biracial and allegedly used a fake name while doing so -- Jacobs blames a family member for calling). The council has already voted to ask her to step down.  The court has decided that this doesn't meet the malfeasance standard. Only two Minnesota recalls have made the ballot since the law was adopted in 1996.

Petitioners handed in over 2000 signatures and 200 were found insufficient. Petitioners need 1880 signatures to get on the ballot they were allowed to cure (which they did).

Colorado: Las Animas County Coroner facing recall effort

It looks like petitions have been taken out against Las Animas County Coroner Dominic Verquer over claims of burying bodies without the owner's knowledge or proper paperwork. The story is behind a paywall, so can't see the details yet.

Michigan: Signatures handed in against Ypsilanti Councilmember

Petitioners have handed in 747 signatures for the recall of Ypsilanti Council Desirae Simmons. They need 603 valids. The election would be on May 7th. 

The recall against council member Jennifer Symanns led to her resignation, though petitioners have stopped their effort against Mayor Nicole Brown.

The recall is over a vote to purchase a $3.7M building, A former Councilmember was the broker of the deal and may make $100,000 on it. 

Arizona: Gadsden School Board recall effort fails, as over 80% of signatures thrown out

The recall effort against Gadsden School Board President Luis Marquez failed, as petitioners turned in almost 900 signatures, but only 128 were valid. They needed 777. Not clear what the recall was about.

Massachusetts: Hopkinton School Board members face recall threats

Hopkinton Select Board members are facing recall threats after the suspension of a Police Sergeant over a alleged failure to report info for an alleged sexual assault by a colleague (apparently, two decades ago). There is significant debate on what the officer was supposed to have done and the release of information about the event now. Petitions are being circulated, but they don't sound like they are official. 

Texas: Alvin voters look to change signature requirements for recalls

Behind a paywall, but hopefully we'll see more in the future.

Michigan: Petitions filed against another Flint Councilmember

A sixth member of Flint City Council, Quincy Murphy, is now facing a recall effort. Here's some more on the ongoing fight.

Louisiana: Petitions filed against Ville Platte Police Chief

Petitions have been taken out against Ville Platte Police Chief Al Perry Thomas, with the lead petitioner being one of his police officers, Malcolm McKinney. Thomas became the police chief after the last chief was found to live outside the district. 

The petition alleges that Thomas leaked case information, the public doesn't feel safe and officers don't want to work under him. Petitioners need 1511 signatures. 

California: Dueling charges in Shasta County Supervisor recall

Dueling ad campaigns have led to claims of lying by both sides in the recall election for Supervisor Kevin Crye. The election has been set for March 5, 2024 (Primary Day).

The recall got the ballot after petitioners handed in 5104 signatures and 4929 were verified. They need 4151 valids to get on the ballot. Supervisors questioned the small rejection rate.  

The recall is over the vote to cancel a voting systems contract with Dominion Voting and requiring handcounting, which will cost the county millions. This is part of the fight in Shasta and Crye seems to be connected to the far right groups, one of whom led the successful recall of Supervisor Leonard Moty.

Supporters in Shasta County are asking that Governor Gavin Newsom not appoint a replacement if is ousted in a recall and instead allow the voters to choose. Presumably, this could be an issue in the election. As a reminder, in 2022, the state changed the law for local officials who lose a recall election. In that case (unless there is a local law from a charter city), the new law eliminates a replacement election and instead uses an automatic replacement model (with the governor or a specified body making the choice of replacements). The law also explains why there is such a long timeframe until the recall is held (it allows a longer timeframe to tie recalls to general election dates).

Florida: Mexico Beach Mayoral recall makes the ballot, scheduled for April 16

The recall of Mexico Beach Mayor Michele Miller has made the ballot, and the election is set for April 16.

Miller has filed a lawsuit seeking to throw out the recall effort against her. Miller has sued the City Council members for hiring the City Administrator and making the sole recordkeeper. The recall claims that she violated Sunshine laws.

Canada: Petitions taken out against Calgary Mayor

Petitions have been taken out against Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek seemingly over the single-use plastic law, though there is also a kitchen sink listing of complaints as well. This is the first recall attempt in Calgary (the law was adopted province-wide in 2022). Petitioners need 514,284 signatures to get on the ballot.

Washington, DC: Councilmember recall raised $54K

The recall effort against Washington, DC City Councilmember Charles Allen has raised $54,000. The recall effort over his push for criminal justice reform issues that were blocked by Congress and the Biden Administration last year. 

Petitioners need about 7500 signatures to get on the ballot. Petitions have not yet been handed out.

California: Statement left out of voter guide in Woodland School Board recall

A statement by Woodland School Board Member Emily McDonald was left out of the voters' guide, and had to be resent. The recall made the ballot and is scheduled for March 5, 2024. Petitioners handed in 1349 signatures (not sure how many were verified) and got 1078. The recall is over statements she made opposing the school's on transgender policy.

New Jersey: Petitions taken out to recall ordinance in Toms River

Petitions have been taken out against a proposal by Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick to get rid of two police captain positions in order to fund eight EMTs. Petitioners need about 3000 signatures to get on the ballot. The article notes that to get a petition against Rodrick, which would need need about 17,918 signatures.

California: State Senate approves Constitutional Amendment reshaping recall law

The California State Senate has approved (31-7) a proposed Constitutional Amendment (sponsored by Senator Josh Newman) that would change the recall law in somewhat odds ways. The Assembly still has to approve it before by a 2/3ds majority before it goes to the voters in November. 

The law seems to split the recall and the replacement race for state legislators, which would mean a separate election date for the replacement race. Note that Michigan did the exact opposite with their recall change in 2012.

Removed officials would now be able to run and replace themselves in the replacement race (though they can't be appointed to a temporary term).

The law would seemingly get rid of the replacement race for Governor and instead allow the automatic replacement by the Lieutenant Governor Of course, what happens if they go down the line and recalled the LG -- as they did in Wisconsin in 2012? Presumably they just go down the line of succession. 

There is a provision that I'm not sure what it means -- though it could be that if the removal happens before a presidential election, there would be a replacement race. Gotta look into this one some more. Here's the provision:

 If the Governor is removed from office by recall before the close of the nomination period for the next statewide election during the first two years of the Governor’s term, a special election shall be called to replace the Governor and shall be consolidated with the statewide primary election and, if necessary, the subsequent statewide general election. If a candidate receives a majority of the votes in the special election that is consolidated with the statewide primary election, that candidate shall become Governor for the remainder of the unexpired term. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, the top two vote-getters shall compete in a special election consolidated with the subsequent statewide general election, and the winner of that election shall become Governor for the remainder of the unexpired term.

California: Deep look at Measure B -- ballot measure trying to change Alameda's recall law

Here

California: $2.2 Million spent on Alameda County District Attorney recall

Over $2.2 million has been spent for the recall of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. Among the donors are the last two Alameda D.A.s, Nancy O'Malley and Thomas Orloff. Price's side has raised about $85,000.

Petitioners have claimed that they have over 110,000 signatures in the recall effort against , which should be which should be well past the 73,195 needed to get on the ballot. 

Price is apparently citing the idea that signatures collected by gatherers who are out of district will be invalidated, as it violates the county law. There's a general belief that this type of law is unconstitutional, but I guess we'll see.

Wisconsin: MyPillow CEO now backing Wisconsin Assembly Speaker recall

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is now campaigning for the effort to recall Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R).

The threat is coming from the right over Vos' refusal to support Trump during the attempt to overthrow the 2020 election results and the decision to drop impeachment efforts against Wisconsin's Election Commission Chair Meagan Wolfe as she has refused to push for the discredited claims of election fraud.

Vos almost lost in 2022 after refusing to back the election fraud claims. Former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who has previously targeted Vos, had called for his recall if he didn't support the impeachment of Wolfe. 

A recent court decision has held that the legislature does not have the power to impeach Wolfe.

Florida: Mexico Beach Mayor sues to toss out recall effort

Mexico Beach Mayor Michele Miller has filed a lawsuit seeking to throw out the recall effort against her. Miller has sued the City Council members for hiring the City Administrator and making the sole recordkeeper. The recall claims that she violated Sunshine laws.

Michigan: Ludington Mayoral recall petitions rejected on clarity/factualness grounds

Petition language against Ludington Mayor Mark Barnett has been rejected on clarity/factualness by the Election Commission. The recall is about approval of a deer cull (which allegedly was approved for his private property). 

New Jersey: Recall effort started against two Point Pleasant Beach Borough Council members

A recall committee has been started against Point Pleasant Beach Borough Council President Rosa Crowley and Council member Arlene Testa 

Crowley pushed to remove Mayor Doug Vitale's appointments from several committees. The Mayor said he is not behind the recall effort. No word on signatures requirements in the article. 

Ohio: Buckeye Lake Mayor sues to stop February 27 recall

Buckeye Lake Mayor Jeryne Peterson is trying to have her upcoming February 27 recall (special election) thrown out by the Ohio Supreme Court. Peterson's claim is based on the fact that the original submission did not have enough signatures and petitioners refiled (as allowed by the charter) in a cure petition 10 days later. Peterson is claiming that the deadline wasn't met. 

The recall seems to be about a host of complaints, "resignations from village employees, unanimous censure and no-confidence votes from village council, a fight with the village solicitor and a lawsuit alleging discrimination filed by a local hotel against the village mayor and police officials." 

Peterson won office with 30% of the vote in 2021. Petitioners handed in 265 valid signatures and needed 252. They originally got 246 valids. Peterson has said that the entire council signed the petitions.

Texas: Signatures handed in against third Mineral Wells Councilmember

Signatures were handed in against Mineral Wells Councilmember Carlos Maldonado over a water rate hike, which is designed to build a reservoir for the area. 

Maldonado is the third Councilmember facing a recall effort, as efforts against Jerrel Tomlin and Mayor Pro Tem Doyle Light has already made the May 4 ballot (Tomlin is up for election on the same day).

Petitioners handed in about 400 signatures. 

Texas: Two Ranger Councilmembers facing recall votes

Ranger councilmembers Kevan Moize and Samantha McGinnis are facing a recall vote apparently now. The story is a bit strange, as there's no word on signatures being handed in. The city originally rejected the petitions, but a court ordered the recall to move forward and declared it had to be held within 15-30 days.

Both councilmembers appear to be perplexed and are cited as having no idea why the recall was started. So far, 145 people have voted in the town of 2300.