What do Andrew Cuomo, Gavin Newsom and 11 Other State Governors Have in Common?

Americans are not happy with state leadership these days. And for good reason. Efforts to impeach New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and to oust California Governor Gavin Newsom are the latest in a historic record number of gubernatorial controversies over the last year. Newsom is joined in the recall spotlight by democratic governors Jared Polis of Colorado, John Bel Edwards of Louisiana, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Tim Walz of Minnesota, Steve Sisola of Nevada, Phil Murphy of New Jersey, Kate Brown of Oregon, and Tony Evers of Wisconsin. The republican governor recall list includes Mike Dunleavy of Alaska, Doug Ducey of Arizona, and Brad Little of Idaho. Reasons for voter discontent vary, but pandemic response is high on the list.

Most recalls happen at the local level (city official, school board). In fact, only 19 U.S. states even allow election recalls for state officials, and recalls have only successfully removed governors from office twice: Once in North Dakota (1921) and once in California (2003). Most states require that some grounds be required for recall, typically: lack of fitness for duty, incompetence, neglect of duties, or corruption.

When it comes to gubernatorial recall frequency, California leads the way. Over 30 governor recalls have been attempted in California since 1911, though only one has actually reached the ballot (and this recall was successful— Gray Davis was replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger). Of note, three of the unsuccessful recall attempts were against Governor Ronald Reagan. 

How election recalls work

An election recall in the simplest terms is a way for voters to remove an elected official before her/his term ends. Originally, this practice was instituted to reduce the influence of political parties and ensure that elected officials were accountable to their constituencies. Depending on state guidelines, after filing a recall petition, an individual then has between 60 and 180 days to get a quorum of voters (ranging from 10-40% of the last votes cast for the office) to sign it. If the necessary quorum is reached, the signatures are validated, and the potential successor is either selected on the same recall ballot, voted in through special election, or directly appointed. 

Recalls differ from impeachment in that impeachment is a legal process, while a recall is a political process. And most recall efforts fail due to lack of organization, funding, or lack of interest from the public, which results in the quorum not being reached.

So why does all this matter? Are recalls just another sign of the rabid divisions currently roiling in our political climate? Or are they an important part of our “by the people, for the people government”? 

Let’s talk about accountability.

Accountability is one of the bedrocks of representative government. The US electoral system was designed so voters can elect candidates they believe will make good on campaign promises (or will at least try their damnedest).  If public dissatisfaction increases after election, voters can leverage recall, or 'direct democracy' mechanisms such as referendums and initiatives (as in California).

Recalls are important because they provide a peaceful means for citizens to hold their elected officials directly accountable. For example, many perceive the recent recall threat against Newsom to be the catalyst for his sudden reversal of policy on reopening schools and other parts of the California economy that had been restricted due to the pandemic. 

While it seems clear that the founders never expected recalls to be the primary form of action in our system of government (recalls do not appear in the Constitution, though they were included in early drafts), they can be a useful resource for disgruntled voters to hold their government accountable, even when the recall does not successfully remove an elected official. 

Getting thrown out of office, even a public attempt at removal, sends a strong, compelling message to an elected official. The same principle applies to leaders in other professions, including CEOs which are accountable to shareholders and board members. We should ALL be accountable for our decisions and actions in ANY context. It’s called taking responsibility and facing up to the consequences of those decisions and actions. Leaders that are unwilling to act accordingly should step aside and make way for someone with more integrity. 

What do you think of the current efforts to recall Gavin Newsom and others? Should the recall process be extended to all 50 states? Let me know in the comments and I’ll share more of my thoughts on how we might move forward as a nation.