Texas: Recall effort against Houston Mayor ramping up

A recall effort is ramping up against Houston Mayor John Whitmire (D) over complaints about incompetence. The one specific policy issue seems to be a water plan.

Petitioners need 63,000 signatures in 30 days (25% of turnout).

California: Look back at the Anaheim KKK recall

Here's an article noting that it is the 100th anniversary of one of the most critical recalls in US history, the successful effort to kick the KKK out of Anaheim. Outside of the Little Rock School Board recalls of 1959, it may be the most consequential. 

Hawaii: Deep look at State legislative appointment and the impact on 1985 recall

A really great look by Perry Arrasmith in Hawaiian Business Magazine at how Hawaii's Governor is tasked with appointing officials to fill state legislative vacancies. Note this point on how the 1985 Honolulu City Council recall led to the start of Governor David Ige's career:

Then-Councilmember Patsy T. Mink was outraged and launched a recall campaign against the three new Republicans. All three lost their seats to Democrats in the recall election; two of those Democrats, Arnold Morgado and Donna Mercado Kim, resigned their seats in the State House to serve on the City Council.

In those days, appointees simply had to be registered as members of the Democratic or Republican party – they did not have to be members of their party for at least six months, as is the current rule. James Kumagai, then chair of the state Democratic Party, who had a doctorate in engineering, was charged with generating lists of potential appointees to fill the House vacancies.

For Morgado’s House seat representing Pearl City, the three options were a longtime party worker; the son of an elected official; and a young outsider named David Ige, an electrical engineer with Hawaiian Telephone, now Hawaiian Telcom. But Ige was not a member of the Democratic Party.

And here's a look at how other states operate (and reelection rates): 

In the U.S., 25 states hold special elections to fill legislative vacancies; appointment processes in the other 25 states vary, according to Ballotpedia, a nonprofit and online encyclopedia of American politics. Only Hawai‘i has governors choose the appointees from short lists of party-selected candidates.

Ballotpedia also tracks the power of incumbency. In all 50 states, it says it analyzed election results for congressional, state executive, state legislative, state judicial and local offices. According to Ballotpedia, 95% of incumbents running nationwide were reelected in 2024, 94% in 2022 and 93% in 2020.

Among the 82 legislative appointees in Hawai‘i since 1964 that I could confirm, 14 did not run for their seats in the next election. But of those who did run, 49 won and 19 lost – a success rate of 72%.

Wisconsin: Wrightstown School Board President recall makes the ballot, scheduled for April 22

The recall against Wrightstown School Board President Angela Hansen-Winker has made the ballot for a special election on April 22 (though depending on how many candidates run, it could be a primary, with the final election on May 20), though she is appealing the certification. The recall is over claims that she misused legal counsel and mishandled a superintendent investigation.

Fellow school board member Rayn Warner is leading the recall effort. Another board member Tiffany Van Vreede is mentioned as a supporter as well. 

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

California: San Jose Condo Complex ousts HOA board

Not much detail here, but apparently the issue was excessive and petty fines by Garden Park Village. Just to note that I do not count HOA recalls in the yearly compilation of recalls. 

Washington: State Supreme Court upholds recall effort against Mabton Mayor

The Washington Supreme Court has upheld (6-3) the judicially approved recall petition against Mabton Mayor Rachel Ruelas. The court ruled that she failed to meet the deadline. Washington is a malfeasance standard state and judges usually toss out recall efforts as not meeting the statutorily delineated reasons for a recall.  

The recall effort comes after the former city clerk was accused of allowing her boyfriend to abscond with $22K in checks and cash from the city. There also has been no access to two council agendas or eight recording of meetings. Council members have not seen the budget and there has been trouble with live-streaming meetings. 

Petitioners would need 59 signatures in 90 days. 

Note that one of the articles notes that recalls are not allowed to be held at the same time as the November general election, which is the opposite of how most states work. I'm not sure about how this works -- it does set dates for local elections and says recalls are excepted.  It does specify that recalls can't be held between a primary and general election date. However, it could make the April ballot.

Oregon: King City Mayor resigns after recall makes the ballot

King City Mayor Marc Manelis has resigned after signatures were verified in his recall and a recall was scheduled for April 29th over a reappointment controversy.

Manelis was just recently elected mayor after the recall and removal of four King City officials, Mayor Jaimie Fender and Councilors Kate Mohr, Smart Ocholi and Laurie Petrie last year, as well as the resignation of Micha Paulsen. 

Manelis voted to reappoint Ocholi to one of the vacant council seats, which apparently led to the current recall effort. The appointment was found to be unconstitutional, but it seems to have happened regardless and Ocholi seems to be on the council.

There was an attempt to recall Marc Manelis at that time for the 2024 recalls, but no signatures were handed in after a change of heart by the petitioners.

That recall was 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 was not facing a recall effort. 

Montana: North Valley County Sewer and Water District Board recall scheduled for June 3rd

The recall of North Valley County Sewer and Water District Board members Krystal Dickerson and Carl Millerick has made the ballot and is set as a special election on June 3rd, though they have sued to stop in under a claim that the petitions are inadequate and inaccurate. 

The recall seems to be about the firing of two general managers.

Montana has a malfeasance standard/judicial recall law, so the petitions focus on claims of alleged theft and incompetence.

Washington: First signatures submitted against Yakima County Coroner

Petitioners have submitted their first batch of 1419 signatures for the recall effort against Yakima County Coroner Jim Curtice (R), which has been approved by a judge. Petitioners need 14000 signatures toget on the ballot. 

Curtice is facing the recall effort (and calls for his resignation by the Yakima County Republican Party) after he admitted that he "was using drugs found on dead bodies and accusing his chief deputy of trying to poison him to cover it up." So far, no charges have been filed.

The first recall attempt against Curtice was rejected as factually and legally deficient, as it relied on news reports. Washington is a malfeasance standard state, so a showing of a statutorily delineated violation is needed. Here's a look at how the recall process works.

Nigerian Senator facing recall effort

Nigerian Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is facing a recall effort. Here's an explanation of how the Nigerian recall works, including that the petitioners need more than 50% of the registered voters in the district. They need their Permanent Voter Card number.  

New Jersey: Lumberton Township Mayor facing recall/resignation threats

Lumberton Township Mayor Gina LaPlaca is facing calls for a resignation or a recall after being arrested on a DUI with a child in the car.

North Dakota: Petitions taken out against Valley City Mayor and Commissioners

Petitions have been taken out against Valley City Mayor Dave Carlsrud  and City Commissioners Duane Magnuson, Mike Bishop, Jeff Erickson and Dick Gulmon. 

The recall effort is over alleged complaints about city projects and financial mismanagement, with a focus on the Public Works Service Center.

California: Poway Councilmember facing petitions

Poway Councilmember Tony Blain is facing 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. 

California: Rick Caruso opposes Los Angeles Mayor recall effort

Rick Caruso, the billionaire who ran and lost to Karen Bass in the mayoral election in 2022, has announced his opposition to a recall effort. However, that is a long way from announcing that he will not run in the replacement race. 

And here's an LA Times story with my comments on how a recall works.

Texas: Look back at the 1938 Fort Worth recalls

Here's a look back at recalls of Forth Worth's Mayor W.J. Hammond and five councilmembers (one by resignation) in 1938 back when the city had a population of under 180,000. 

The six had been elected in 1937 as members of the Peoples' Progressive League and faced the ire of the local business community. 

Montana: Canyon Creek Rural Fire District Trustee ousted

Canyon Creek Rural Fire District Trustee Richard E. Grady was kicked out in a March 18 recall election, 146-49. 

There seems to be complaints about the right to comment and other issues, including the hesitancy to accept a new fire truck. Apparently, most races are close, so the blowout was a surprise (though not to followers of recalls!). 

Alaska: North Slope Mayor facing petitions

North Slope Borough Mayor Josiah Aullaqsruaq Patkotak is facing petitions over complaints over allegedly misusing funds for travel expenses for his family. Apparently, the salary for the position is over $280,000. 

This is the second petition filed, the first was rejected due to Alaska's malfeasance standard (which may not be in effect thanks to recent court decisions). 

In 2016, a previous Mayor, Charlotte Brower, was kicked out with a recall for sending her grandchildren to a basketball camp in California, among other issues.

Maine: Freedom Select Board Member and Blair Witch Project Star facing April 23rd Recall vote

Freedom Select Board member Heather Donahue, famous for her leading role in "The Blair Witch Project," is facing a recall vote on April 23rd over whether a road that a family has claimed has public access or not (Donahue has argued that it does). The petitioners are complaining that Donahue cut brush and trimming on the road and used orange spray paint to mark trees on the public easement. 

There are also issues of complaints about the old board (Donahue was elected last year), including late IRS payments and budget confusion, so this may be part of an old residents vs. new residents fight. 

Petitioners handed in 73 signatures and needed 46 valids.

North Dakota: Petitions taken out against Burleigh County Commissioner

Petitions have been taken out against Burleigh County Commissioner Brian Bitner over complaints about contempt for voters, though Bitner believes it is for other reasons that he does not specify. Bitner is the board chair and has been on the commission since 2008.

Petitioners need 12,858 signatures in one year.

California: Petitions taken out against Contra Costa District Attorney

The recall effort against Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton is moving forward, with petitions set to be filed this week. Petitioners seem to need somewhere in the neighborhood of 72,000 signatures in 160 days. 

Becton appears to be part of the progressive prosecutor movement, and is facing similar complaints to DAs in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Alameda about a perception of a failure to prosecute different cases. We discuss the pushback here. Interestingly, Becton was listed as one of the opponents of Prop 36, which increased sentencing for drug and theft crimes and passed overwhelming. 

Becton has also been accused of demoting her last two opponent after her election and there was apparently a $2.2 million discrimination settlement against the DA's office (which her opponent was part of -- the alleged discrimination was against women). 

Here's some local reports on KRON4 and ABC7 where I am on discussing the recall effort. 

Minnesota: Supreme Court tosses out House recall efforts

No surprise here, but the Minnesota Supreme Court has tossed out the recall efforts against Minnesota's Democratic House Representatives and (presumably one of the Republicans), claiming it fails to meet the malfeasance standard. 

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. 

Tennessee: Knox County School Board member facing petitions

A recall effort has been kicked off against Knox County School Board Chair Betsy Henderson. Henderson is facing the recall over her push for school vouchers.

It is not clear if there can be a recall, as state law allows it only on a regular election ballot, not as a standalone special election. "The county charter doesn't specify whether special election can be called for recalls."  If there is no special, then the next election would ne in 2026, when the seat would be up. Henderson may run for mayor instead. Petitioners would need about 6000 signatures.

The lead petitioner, Phillip Sherman, ran against her in 2022. 

California: Two Beverly Hills School Board members face petitions

Petitions have been taken out against Beverly Hills School Board Members Russell Stuart and Sigalie Sabag following the resignation of the Superintendent and the restructure of administration and two schools. Stuart has also faced criticism for a social media post overlapping the D in the School District with DOGE.

Petitioners need about 4560 signatures. There would be no replacement whatsoever if they are removed. 

Update: The recall has been put on hold because it was put in too early.

Arizona: Santa Cruz Sheriff facing petitions

Petitions have been taken out against Santa Cruz Sheriff David Hathaway. Petitioners need 4567 signatures by July 2. 

The lead petitioner is the chair of the local Republican Party and a former volunteer with the search and rescue team. There's a kitchen sink list of complaints, but the focus seems to be withdrawing from a federal program paying for increased border patrol action.

Wyoming: Attempted recall of Opal Mayor fails due to impossibility of State Recall Laws

Very odd situation in Opal, where the City Attorney told the council that they could lead a recall of Mayor Mary Hall (who was recently appointed after the previous mayor resigned), though he was wrong. 

The Attorney believed that a recall was allowed, but found out that Wyoming's law only allows for recalls in governments with a commission-style (which is apparently none). 

It is an odd feature that the state allows recalls, but no one can access such a rule. 

Update: The City Attorney resigned 

North Dakota: Dickinson Commissioner easily survives recall vote

The bizarre recall effort against Dickinson Commissioner Jason Fridrich, in which no candidate put themselves on the ballot to oppose him, has ended, as Fridrich won the race 626 to 25 for write-in candidate Seth Hegelson (who led the recall effort).  

For some reason, no challenger emerged in the March 11th  recall election against Fridrich, despite them getting the recall on the ballot.

The recall is over a claim that he did not properly take the oath of office.

The ones against Mayor Scott Decker and Commissioner John Odermann failed. There is a question on how many signatures were needed due to whether to follow the ND Code or the Home Rule Charter. Dickinson's Home Rule Charter required 15% of voters versus 25% in the state Code.

Petitioners needed 724 for Decker and Odermann and 424 for Fridrich.

New York: New recall law bill proposed

There is a new bill for a recall law in New York state, sponsored by Assemblyman Chris Tague (R). The bill would only hit statewide elected officials, not legislators or local officials.

Taiwan: 37 recall campaigns move to second stage of signature collection

37 of the Taiwan focused recall campaigns have advanced to the next stage, with 33 KMT legislators, one independent legislator, a mayor and two city councilors moving forward. They will now need 10% of voters signatures in 60 days to go to the ballot.

Oklahoma: State-level recall bill passes Senate committee

The state level recall bill proposed by Senator Bill Coleman  (R) passed through the Senate comitteee 7-1. 

The recall has some unusual provisions, including have lawmakers start the process rather than have the signature gathering effort (which is the case for Illinois's gubernatorial recall).

The bill seems to be in reaction to School Superintendent Ryan Waters, who is calling for the election of district superintendents and has run into trouble on both sides of the aisle. 

Nebraska: Fort Calhoun Mayor facing petitions

Fort Calhoun Mayor Mitch Robinson is facing a recall effort over his support a plan to lease outdoor gun range space to Omaha's Police Department. There is already a recall vote to remove that specific provision. 

Alaska: Palmer Mayor recall makes the ballot for May election

The recall against Palmer Mayor Steve Carrington appears to have made the ballot, with the recall to be held in May. The recall appears to be over over a $75K severance payment to a city manager who served for 53 days. The complaint is focused on Open Meeting Act violations.

Three Palmer City Councilmembers were kicked out in a recall in 2022. The lead petitioner against the three councilmembers is also leading the effort against Carrington. Carrington was elected in 2022, but served for a decade on the council. Petitioners need about 58 signatures (25% of turnout -- though perhaps it requires all signers to have voted) in 90 days to get on the ballot.

Petitioners needed 71 signatures. No word on how many they got.

Arizona: Glendale Councilmember facing recall threats

Signatures are being collected for a recall of Glendale Councilmember Leandro Baldenegro over complaints about eliminating comments at the council meetings and voting demolish a library.

Petitioners need over 400 signatures to get on the ballot.