Political recall efforts

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This page lists all political recall efforts identified by Ballotpedia in the United States organized by year and level of government. Recalls are the process by which an elected official can be removed from office via a public vote before their term is completed.

If you are aware of a current or historical recall effort not listed on this page, please contact [email protected] to let us know.

Analysis

See also: Ballotpedia's Recall Report

Recall success by year

From 2010 to 2023, Ballotpedia covered an average of 217 recall efforts against an average of 354 officials per year. Those recalls saw a 16.6% success rate.[1] The highest success rate happened in 2011 when 83 of the 308 officials targeted for recall were removed from office in a recall election, a success rate of 26.9%. The lowest success rate happened in 2021 when 25 of the 545 officials targeted for recall were removed from office in a recall election, a success rate of 4.6%.

As of September 30, 2024, Ballotpedia had tracked 203 recall efforts against 320 officials. As of that time, 57 of the officials targeted for recall had been removed from office in a recall election, a success rate of 17.8%. Twenty-seven officials defeated a recall election to stay in office.

The chart below shows how many officials were included in recall efforts as well as how many of them defeated recall elections to stay in office and how many were removed from office in recall elections from 2010 to September 30, 2024.

Recalls by office type

From 2010 to 2023, city council members had the most recall petitions filed against them when compared to other office types with the exception of 2021, when school board members had the most. School board members had the second-most recall petitions filed against them every year except 2021, when they had the most, and 2017, when they had the third-most after city council members and mayors.

As of September 30, 2024, city council members again had the most recall petitions filed against them with 133. School board members came in second with 76, and mayors came in third with 37.

The chart below shows the number of officials included in recall efforts by office type from 2010 through September 30, 2024.

Recalls by state

From 2010 through September 30, 2024, California saw the highest number of officials included in recall efforts with 1,011. Michigan came in second with 986. The third-highest number of officials included in recall efforts was in Colorado with 355.

The map below shows the total number of officials targeted for recall in each state from 2010 to September 30, 2024. Ballotpedia did not track any recall efforts in the states shown in gray.

Recalls by year

Click on the tabs below for more information about political recall efforts by year and type of office. The recalls listed in tabs prior to 2010 are not comprehensive. Click here to learn about how recall procedures vary from state to state.

2025

See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2025

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2025.

City officials

See also: City official recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2025.

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2025.

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2025.

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2025.

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2025.

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2025.

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2025.

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2025.

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2025.

2024

See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2024

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2024.

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2023

See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2023

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2022

See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2022

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2021

See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2021

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2020

See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2020

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials

See also: City official recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2020.

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2019

See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2019

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2018

See also: Political recall efforts by state, Political recall efforts, 2018, Ballotpedia's Mid-Year Recall Report (2018), and Ballotpedia's 2018 Recall Analysis

In 2018, Ballotpedia tracked 206 recalls against 299 elected officials. Of the 123 elected officials who faced recall elections, 77 officials were recalled.

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2018.

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2018.

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2017

See also: Political recall efforts by state, Political recall efforts, 2017, Ballotpedia's Mid-Year Recall Report (2017), and Ballotpedia's 2017 Recall Analysis

In 2017, Ballotpedia tracked 250 recall efforts against 344 elected officials. Of the 65 elected officials who faced recall elections, 37 officials were recalled, for a rate of 56.9 percent. This was higher than the 56.3 percent rate for 2016 recalls and lower than the 64.5 percent rate for 2015 recalls.

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2016

See also: Political recall efforts by state, Political recall efforts, 2016, Ballotpedia's Mid-Year Recall Report (2016), and Ballotpedia's 2016 Recall Analysis

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2015

See also: Political recall efforts by state, Political recall efforts, 2015, and Ballotpedia's 2015 Recall Analysis

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

Judges

See also: Judicial recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2014

See also: Political recall efforts by state, Political recall efforts, 2014, and Ballotpedia's 2014 Recall Analysis

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2014.

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2013

See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2013

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2013.

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2012

See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2012

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials

See also: City official recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2012.

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2011

See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2011

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials

See also: City official recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2011.

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

U.S. Congress

See also: Congressional recalls

2010

See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2010

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials

See also: City official recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2010.

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

U.S. Congress

See also: Congressional recalls

2009

See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2009

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials

See also: City official recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2009.

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2008

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2007

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

2006

See also: Political recall efforts by state

County officials

See also: County official recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

2005

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

2004

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

2003

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

State executives

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2002

See also: Political recall efforts by state

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

1996

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

Special districts

See also: Special district recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1995

See also: Political recall efforts by state

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1994

See also: Political recall efforts by state

School boards

See also: School board recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1991

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

1990

See also: Political recall efforts by state

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1988

See also: Political recall efforts by state

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1985

See also: Political recall efforts by state

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1983

See also: Political recall efforts by state

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1980

See also: Political recall efforts by state

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

1978

See also: Political recall efforts by state

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

1971

See also: Political recall efforts by state

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1960

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

1952

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

1949

See also: Political recall efforts by state

Sheriffs

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

1935

See also: Political recall efforts by state

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1932

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils

See also: City council recall efforts

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1924

See also: Political recall efforts by state

County commissions

See also: County commission recall efforts

1914

See also: Political recall efforts by state

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1913

See also: Political recall efforts by state

State legislatures

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1911

See also: Political recall efforts by state

Mayors/presidents

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

About recalls

See also: Laws governing recall

A political recall is the process by which citizens can remove elected officials from office before their term is completed. This process typically includes the circulation of petitions by recall organizers, the evaluation of signatures by election officials, and a public vote if the petitions are deemed to have sufficient valid signatures.

The details of the recall process vary from state to state. Thirty-nine states allow recalls at the local level of government, depending on office type, and 19 of those states also allow recalls at the state level. Click here to learn about the laws governing recalls in each state.

Recall reports

Ballotpedia publishes two reports each year to highlight recall statistics and notable recall efforts at the local and state government levels. Click the links below to read these reports:

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The success rate was calculated by dividing the number of recalled officials by the total number of officials who were targeted for recall.
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