Political Recall Efforts

From Ballotpedia

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 editor@ballotpedia.org to let us know.

Analysis[edit]

See also: Ballotpedia's Recall Report

Recall success by year[edit]

From 2010 to 2024, Ballotpedia covered an average of 219 recall efforts against an average of 356 officials per year. Those recalls saw a 17% 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 27%. 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 5%.

As of October 10, 2025, Ballotpedia had tracked 220 recall efforts against 267 officials. As of that time, 32 of the officials targeted for recall had been removed from office in a recall election, a success rate of 10%. 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 October 10, 2025.


Recalls by office type[edit]

From 2010 to 2024, 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 October 10, 2025, city council members again had the most recall petitions filed against them with 148. School board members came in second with 39, and state legislators were third with 37.

The chart below shows the number of officials included in recall efforts by office type from 2010 to October 10, 2025.

Recalls by state[edit]

From 2010 through October 10, 2025, California saw the highest number of officials included in recall efforts with 1,055. Michigan came in second with 1,013. The third-highest number of officials included in recall efforts was in Colorado with 394.

The map below shows the total number of officials targeted for recall in each state from 2010 to October 10, 2025. Ballotpedia did not track any recall efforts in the states shown in gray.

Recalls by year[edit]

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.

2026[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2026

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2026.

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2026.

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2026.

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2026.

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2026.

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2026.

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2026.

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2026.

2025[edit]

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

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2024[edit]

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

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2023[edit]

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

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2022[edit]

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

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2021[edit]

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

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2020[edit]

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

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2020.

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2019[edit]

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

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2018[edit]

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[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2018.

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2018.

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2017[edit]

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[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2016[edit]

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[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2015[edit]

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

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Judges[edit]

See also: Judicial recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2014[edit]

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

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2014.

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2013[edit]

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

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2013.

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2012[edit]

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

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2012.

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2011[edit]

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

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2011.

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

U.S. Congress[edit]

See also: Congressional recalls

2010[edit]

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

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2010.

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

U.S. Congress[edit]

See also: Congressional recalls

2009[edit]

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

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2009.

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2008[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2007[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

2006[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

2005[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

2004[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

2003[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

2002[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

1996[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1995[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1994[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1993[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

1992[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

School boards[edit]

See also: School boards recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: Gubernatorial recall efforts

1991[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: Gubernatorial recall efforts

1990[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1988[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1987[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

1985[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1984[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

1983[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

1982[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1981[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1980[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

1978[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

1977[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

1976[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

1973[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts


1972[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

State executives[edit]

See also: Gubernatorial recall efforts

1971[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1970[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

1968[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

1964[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

1963[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

1960[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

1952[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

1951[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

1949[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

1941[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

School boards[edit]

See also: School board recall efforts

1938[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

1935[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1932[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1925[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

City officials[edit]

See also: City official recall efforts

1924[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

County commissions[edit]

See also: County commission recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

1922[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts

1921[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

State executives[edit]

See also: State executive recall efforts


1914[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1913[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

County officials[edit]

See also: County official recall efforts

Sheriffs[edit]

See also: Sheriff recall efforts

Special districts[edit]

See also: Special district recall efforts

State legislatures[edit]

See also: State legislative recall efforts

1911[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

1909[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

Mayors/presidents[edit]

See also: Mayoral recall efforts

1904[edit]

See also: Political recall efforts by state

City councils[edit]

See also: City council recall efforts

About recalls[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

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

Categories: [Election overviews from current election cycles]


Download as ZWI file | Last modified: 12/26/2025 03:43:44 | 6 views
☰ Source: https://ballotpedia.org/Political_recall_efforts | License: CC BY-SA 3.0

ZWI is not signed. [what is this?]