Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report, Seeks $10 Billion

4 hours ago

Clovis Unified Mourns Passing of Former Superintendent Terry Bradley

10 hours ago

Clovis At-Risk Missing Person Found Dead in Fresno Canal

11 hours ago

DOJ Asks California Sheriffs for Names of Inmates Who Aren’t Citizens

12 hours ago

Israel Agrees to Allow Syrian Troops Limited Access to Sweida

12 hours ago

Border Patrol Agents Raid a Home Depot in Northern California

12 hours ago

Man Admits to Killing Missing Bass Lake Resident, Madera County Authorities Say

1 day ago

Trump Diagnosed With Vein Condition Causing Leg Swelling, White House Says

1 day ago

US Seeks One-Day Sentence for Police Officer Convicted in Breonna Taylor Case

1 day ago

Manhattan Prosecutor Who Handled Epstein Cases Is Fired

2 days ago
California Dems Consider Retooling Local Recall Rules Over 'Hyperpartisanship'
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 3 years ago on
August 24, 2022

Share

 

Democratic state lawmakers moved Tuesday to limit the “hyperpartisanship” they said has increasingly corrupted California’s local recall elections, over the objection of Republicans who said it could boost costs and thwart voters’ will.

Currently, voters generally decide whether to recall a sitting official and choose that official’s replacement at the same time and on the same ballot.

But that could result in a replacement taking office with a minority of votes in a multi-candidate field, and with potentially fewer votes than the official who is ousted.

That “offers bad actors a powerful incentive for targeting an elected official with whom they disagree, in order to replace them with someone who would otherwise not enjoy the support of a majority of voters,” said Democratic state Sen. Josh Newman.

The pending bill still would allow voters to recall a sitting local government official but eliminate the second step, leaving the local government to appoint a replacement or call a special election to fill the vacancy.

“Elections will be restored to their intended purpose of allowing for a referendum on the integrity or fitness of the recalled official, and not as an end-around to subvert standard electoral processes,” said Newman, who himself was recalled from the Senate in 2018 before regaining his seat two years later.

California is one of 30 states that allows for the recall of local officials, and it has recently had some bruising battles. Voters in San Francisco in June ousted their district attorney in mid-term, though voters there already use a process similar to the pending legislation. And opponents of Los Angeles’ prosecutor have failed twice to mount recall elections there.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, last year easily defeated a recall attempt that critics said could have replaced him with a Republican who received a minority of votes.

Statewide recalls would not be affected by the pending measure, and Democratic Sen. Steve Glazer said he fears prospects for broader reforms “have dimmed over time.”

But local recall efforts in California have soared in recent years, from an average of 13 that qualified for the ballot annually between 2010 and 2020. However in 2021 alone 70 local officials faced recalls, Newman said.

That is voters’ right, though “we may not like it, particularly if we are the target of that recall,” objected Republican Sen. Melissa Melendez.

“I don’t know that we need to meddle with laws that have been in place for decades that have worked and are doing their job,” added GOP Sen. Brian Jones. “It’s a solution in search of a problem.”

The Senate approved the bill 29-8, sending it back to the Assembly for a final vote before lawmakers adjourn at month’s end. It would then go to Newsom for his consideration.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Astronomer CEO, HR Chief on Leave After Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ Sparks Scandal

DON'T MISS

Sanger Man Arrested in Child Exploitation Investigation

DON'T MISS

Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report, Seeks $10 Billion

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Arrested for Home Invasion, Groping Sleeping Woman

DON'T MISS

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

DON'T MISS

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

DON'T MISS

Rubio Says 10 Americans Detained in Venezuela Have Been Released

DON'T MISS

US Firms to Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Trump Lifts Sanctions

DON'T MISS

More than Severance: Fresno Unified Wants to Give $162K to Nikki Henry to End ‘Dispute’

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Man Accused of Chasing, Shooting Victim

UP NEXT

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

UP NEXT

What You Need to Know About Trump, Epstein and the MAGA Controversy

UP NEXT

How Many Millions of Dollars Will Fresno Get From Airport Car Rentals?

UP NEXT

Blast at Los Angeles Sheriff’s Facility Leaves Three Dead, Media Reports

UP NEXT

DOJ Asks California Sheriffs for Names of Inmates Who Aren’t Citizens

UP NEXT

Newsom Wants California to Counter Texas on Redistricting

UP NEXT

Border Patrol Agents Raid a Home Depot in Northern California

UP NEXT

C for Chaos? Ashjian Kicked Off Measure C Committee

UP NEXT

Trump Signs Executive Order Creating New Classification of Non-Career Federal Workers

UP NEXT

Judge Rules Trump’s Firing of FTC Commissioner Was Illegal

Fresno Man Arrested for Home Invasion, Groping Sleeping Woman

4 hours ago

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

5 hours ago

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

5 hours ago

Rubio Says 10 Americans Detained in Venezuela Have Been Released

7 hours ago

US Firms to Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Trump Lifts Sanctions

7 hours ago

More than Severance: Fresno Unified Wants to Give $162K to Nikki Henry to End ‘Dispute’

8 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Man Accused of Chasing, Shooting Victim

8 hours ago

What You Need to Know About Trump, Epstein and the MAGA Controversy

8 hours ago

How Many Millions of Dollars Will Fresno Get From Airport Car Rentals?

8 hours ago

DOJ Wants California Jail Data on Noncitizen Inmates. Fresno Sheriff Reviews Request.

9 hours ago

Astronomer CEO, HR Chief on Leave After Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ Sparks Scandal

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot were placed on leave following a viral “kiss cam” moment at a Coldplay conc...

3 hours ago

3 hours ago

Astronomer CEO, HR Chief on Leave After Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ Sparks Scandal

3 hours ago

Sanger Man Arrested in Child Exploitation Investigation

President Donald Trump speaks during the White House Faith Office Luncheon at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 14, 2025. (Reuters/Nathan Howard)
4 hours ago

Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report, Seeks $10 Billion

A Fresno man has been arrested on felony charges after allegedly breaking into a home, groping a sleeping woman, and fleeing with stolen items. (Fresno County SO)
4 hours ago

Fresno Man Arrested for Home Invasion, Groping Sleeping Woman

5 hours ago

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

A juvenile girl was rescued early Thursday, July 17, 2025, after becoming trapped inside a chimney at a Fresno home and was hospitalized with minor injuries. (Fresno FD)
5 hours ago

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a nuclear cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani (not pictured), at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2025. (Reuters/Umit Bektas)
7 hours ago

Rubio Says 10 Americans Detained in Venezuela Have Been Released

Men work at a makeshift oil refinery site in Marchmarin town, southern countryside of Idlib, Syria December 16, 2015. (Reuters File)
7 hours ago

US Firms to Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Trump Lifts Sanctions

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend