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Ballotpedia's 2025 Recall Analysis

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Recall elections in 2025:
Year-end report
Statistics
388 targeted officials
276 recall efforts
Notable recalls
Oregon House of Representatives
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
San Francisco, California
Jackson County, Missouri
Mesa, Arizona
Liberty Elementary School District, Arizona

December 19, 2025
By Ballotpedia staff

In 2025, Ballotpedia covered 276 recall efforts targeting 388 elected officials. This was the second-lowest number of officials targeted for recall since 2020, when there were 301 officials included in recall efforts. The number of recall efforts increased from 2024, when there were 248 recall efforts. There was one more official targeted for recall in 2025 compared to 2024.

A total of 44 officials were removed from office through recall elections, representing 11% of the officials targeted. This is the lowest percentage of officials removed since 2021, when 5% of targeted officials were removed in recall elections, and the third lowest since Ballotpedia began tracking recall data in 2012. In comparison, 2018 had the highest percentage of officials removed, with 26%.

City council members had the most recalls out of all office types in 2025, accounting for 47% of officials named in recall efforts. Except for 2021, city council members have been included in the most recall efforts since 2016. School board members were included in the most in 2021. In 2025, school board members were named in the second-most recalls, accounting for 14% of officials named in recall efforts.

Michigan had the most officials targeted for recall in 2025, with 58, followed by California with 47 and Colorado with 36. Michigan also had the most officials targeted for recall in 2018 and from 2022 to 2024, while California had the most in 2016, 2017, and from 2019 to 2021.

Alaska had the highest rate of recall attempts relative to its population, with 1.35 recalls per 100,000 residents. Rhode Island followed with 0.81 recalls per 100,000 residents, and Nebraska had 0.75 recalls per 100,000 residents.

Notable recall efforts across 2025 included the following:

  • Two efforts to recall Oregon state Rep. Cyrus Javadi occurred in 2025. Neither made the ballot. The second recall effort began shortly after Javadi announced that he was changing his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat. Recall organizers alleged in the second recall petition that Javadi had broken the trust of his constituents and violated his oath of office. Javadi said that the recall stemmed from disagreement over votes and not misconduct on his part, and that he remained focused on serving his district.[1][2]
  • In Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Mayor Kahlil Seren was removed from office in a recall election on September 9, 2025, with 82.2% of votes cast in favor of recalling him. Recall organizers said that Seren had not submitted financial audits to the state promptly, had submitted an incomplete budget for 2025, and alleged that he had created a hostile workplace. Organizers also gave a high staff turnover rate as one of the reasons for the recall effort. Seren argued that recalling him would give City Council President Tony Cuda too much power.[3][4]
  • San Francisco District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio was removed from office in a recall election on September 16, 2025, over his support for Proposition K, with 62.7% of votes cast in favor of recalling him. Proposition K was a measure passed in November 2024 to permanently close a section of the Upper Great Highway to vehicle traffic. Opponents argued that the measure would lead to traffic issues and that Engardio had violated promises he'd made while campaigning by supporting it. Engardio said the measure would provide a boost to public recreation and local businesses in the area.[5][6][7]
  • In Jackson County, Missouri, County Executive Frank White was removed from office on September 30, 2025, with 89.4% of votes cast in favor of recalling him. Recall organizers gave White's handling of property tax assessments as the reason for the recall effort. In a statement, White said the recall effort was "a political sideshow funded by a dark money group and led by individuals who prioritize self-promotion over the future of Jackson County."[8][9]
  • In Mesa, Arizona, District 2 City Councilwoman Julie Spilsbury was removed from office in a recall election on November 4, 2025, with 52.6% of votes cast in favor of recalling her. Recall organizers gave Spilsbury's votes in favor of turning a hotel into a temporary housing facility, raising Mesa's utility rates, and raising council salaries as the reasons for the recall effort. In response, Spilsbury said that she had listened to constituent input, studied the issues, and voted for what she believed was best for Mesa. Turning Point USA supported the recall effort.[10]
  • An effort to recall Michael Todd from his position as a member of the Liberty Elementary School District school board began in October 2025. Recall organizers have alleged a lack of transparency and integrity on Todd's part, as well as financial mismanagement and a lack of dedication to student-first leadership. Todd has said that recall organizers aren't interested in accountability, and that he is committed to accountability, the highest quality of education, and student safety. This was the fourth recall effort started in the district since 2021.[11][12]

Tribute

Ballotpedia would like to use this space in tribute to Joshua Spivak, the writer of the Recall Elections Blog. We were sad to hear of his passing on July 12, 2025. Spivak was an expert on recalls, and we read his blog often to keep our own data up to date. We look back fondly on our years of collaboration and discussion. His expertise and contributions to the civic information community will be greatly missed.

Statistics

Ballotpedia covers recall efforts across the country for all state and local elected offices. Four individuals had two recall efforts started against them in 2025. Their statuses for each effort are included in the statistics below.

Ballotpedia covered 276 recall efforts against 388 officials in 2025. Efforts against 44 officials were successful, removing them from office via a recall election. Twenty officials resigned after recall efforts were started against them, 14 were put on the ballot but defeated the recall to stay in office, and the recall efforts against 197 officials failed to make the ballot. Recall elections for another 13 officials were scheduled but were not held in 2025, and 104 officials faced recall efforts that remained underway into 2026.

The chart below details the results of recall efforts that have been resolved, either by reaching the ballot, failing to reach the ballot, or due to a resignation.

Recall elections removed 11% of officials included in recall efforts in 2025. This was the third-lowest percentage of officials removed from office that Ballotpedia has tracked. The highest occurred in 2018 with 26%, and the lowest occurred in 2021 with 5%.

The chart below shows how many officials were included in recall efforts from 2012 through 2025 as well as how many of them had been removed from office in recall elections at that time.

City council members received more recall petitions than any other group in 2025. They also led in recall petitions from 2016 to 2024, except in 2021, when school board members drew the most.

In total, 183 city council or town board members were targeted for recall, compared to 55 school board members. Recalls were also initiated against 51 mayors and vice mayors. At the state level, 37 state legislators and three state executives faced recall efforts. A breakdown of the various recall targets is displayed in the chart below:

Targets by state

Ballotpedia covered a total of 276 recall efforts against 388 officials in 31 states. Michigan led the way in officials targeted for recall with 58 in 2025. California had the second-most with 47, and Colorado had the third-most with 36. Michigan had the most officials targeted for recall in 2018, 2022, 2023, and 2024. From 2016 to 2017 and 2019 to 2021, California had the most officials targeted for recall. To view the number of recall targets in a particular state, hover your mouse cursor over that state below:

The table below shows the average number of officials targeted for recall in each state from 2020 to 2024, the number of officials targeted in 2025, and the change in 2025 numbers compared to the five-year average.

When adjusted for state population using the U.S. Census Bureau's July 2024 population estimates, Alaska became the recall leader with 1.35 recalls per 100,000 residents. It is followed by Rhode Island (0.81 recalls per 100,000 residents) and Nebraska (0.75 recalls per 100,000 residents).

Notable recalls

Cyrus Javadi recall, Oregon House of Representatives

See also: Cyrus Javadi recall, Oregon House of Representatives (2025)
Rep. Cyrus Javadi (D)

Two efforts to recall Oregon state Rep. Cyrus Javadi (D) were initiated by Katrina Nelson in 2025, but neither reached the ballot. The first recall petition, approved in July, was withdrawn and replaced with a second attempt in September.[2][13] The second recall petition was launched days after Javadi announced that he was switching his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat. Nelson had until December 8, 2025, to gather 5,417 signatures, but none were submitted by the deadline.[14]

According to the second recall petition, Javadi was subject to recall for allegedly breaking the trust of his constituents and violating his oath of office.[1] The petition cited several examples, including that he had changed his party affiliation during his term, supported large tax increases despite campaigning against them, voted to protect explicit materials in schools without allowing for public input, and sponsored legislation that the petition claimed endangered law enforcement.[15]

Javadi responded to the second recall effort, saying, "This recall is about disagreement over votes, not misconduct. My focus remains on serving House District 32: fixing roads, protecting rural health care, affordable housing, protecting and creating jobs, and keeping our communities safe. I’ll keep listening to all voices, whether they agree with me or not."[2]

Javadi was elected in 2022 and won re-election in 2024 with 52.1% of the vote. He is up for re-election in 2026.[16]

As of December 2025, there had been 37 recall efforts involving state legislators, making it the second-highest number in a single year since 1913. The only year with more state legislative recall efforts was 2011, which saw 44. From 1913 through 2024, Ballotpedia tracked 186 recall efforts involving 168 state lawmakers. The most recent state legislator to be recalled was California state Sen. Josh Newman (D) in 2018.

Kahlil Seren recall, Cleveland Heights, Ohio

See also: Kahlil Seren recall, Cleveland Heights, Ohio (2025)
Former Mayor Kahlil Seren

Cleveland Heights voters approved the recall of Mayor Kahlil Seren on September 9, 2025, with 82.2% voting to remove him from office.[17]

Seren, who was the first mayor of Cleveland Heights, was elected in November 2021. Voters in the city approved Issue 26 in 2019, replacing the position of city manager with an elected mayor, effective January 1, 2022.[18]

Cleveland Heights residents Josie Moore, James Bates, and Michael Bennett organized the recall effort.[19] The group was able to collect 3,845 valid signatures, about 1,000 more than the requirement to put the recall on the ballot.[20] The Plain Dealer reported that petitions cited the following as grounds for recalling Seren:[3]

“
  • Failure to submit timely financial audits to the State of Ohio dating back to 2023, risking compounding fees, state sanctions, and legal action.
  • High staff turnover, including three city administrators in as many years. The position currently remains vacant, in violation of the City Charter.
  • Submission of an incomplete 2025 budget, missing required information for council review.
  • Allegations of a hostile workplace, including an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint, Human Resources complaints and possible retaliatory actions against employees, placing the city at risk of litigation.[21]
 ”

Seren submitted a statement to News 5 arguing that his removal would transfer too much power—particularly with the 2026 budget process—to City Council President Tony Cuda, who automatically replaced Seren on an interim basis.[4]

While the recall effort was ongoing, Seren was unable to submit enough signatures to qualify to run for re-election in November 2025.[22] City Councilman Jim Petras was elected as mayor and will replace Cuda on January 1, 2026.[23]

Joel Engardio recall, San Francisco, California

See also: Joel Engardio recall, San Francisco, California (2024-2025)

Voters in San Francisco, California, recalled District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio on September 16, 2025. Engardio was removed from office by a margin of 62.7% to 37.3%.[24] This marked the first recall of a supervisor in the city’s history.[25]

The recall effort began in December 2024 and centered on Engardio’s support for Proposition K, a 2024 ballot measure that permanently closed the city's Upper Great Highway to private vehicles.[26]

Recall organizers argued that Proposition K would make District 4 less safe through increasing congestion, commute times, traffic on residential streets, emergency service response times, and by removing an evacuation route for Western San Francisco.[27] Supporters of Proposition K said that the bill's passage would make the city's coastline more accessible, protect the ecosystem, and support local businesses in the area.[28]

In a statement regarding the recall effort posted on his website in December 2024, Engardio wrote, "I supported Prop K because I believe it solves unavoidable concerns about the environment and what to do with a precious coast that belongs to all. I felt the people of San Francisco should be able to directly determine the future of their coastline."[29] Proposition K passed on November 5, 2024, with almost 55% of votes in its favor.[30] On May 22, 2025, organizers submitted 10,523 valid signatures to trigger a recall election for Engardio.[31]

Following Engardio's recall, Mayor Daniel Lurie appointed Beya Alcaraz to fill the District 4 vacancy on November 6, 2025. Alcaraz resigned after only one week in office, following questions over her past conduct as a small business owner.[32] On December 1, 2025, former City College of San Francisco board member Alan Wong was appointed to replace Alcaraz. Wong will serve until a special election is held for the District 4 seat on June 2, 2026.[33]

Frank White recall, Jackson County, Missouri

See also: Frank White recall, Jackson County, Missouri (2024-2025)

Voters in Jackson County, Missouri, recalled County Executive Frank White Jr. on September 30, 2025, with 89.4% voting in favor of his removal. He was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022.

The recall effort was organized by Democracy in Action and centered on criticism of White’s handling of property tax assessments. Recall supporters argued that White's administration mishandled real estate valuations and failed to adequately mitigate the impact of rising property taxes.[8] In a statement responding to the recall effort, White described it as a politically motivated effort backed by dark money interests and defended his administration’s record on transparency and reform.[9]

Recall organizers were required to submit 42,902 valid signatures to trigger the election.[34] County officials verified 43,011 signatures on June 30, 2025, after organizers submitted more than 80,000 signatures in two rounds.[35] Following a legal dispute over election timing, a Jackson County judge scheduled the recall election for September 30.[36][37]

Following White's recall, the Jackson County Legislature named Phil LeVota as interim Jackson County executive. LeVota assumed office on October 16, 2025, and will serve the remainder of White's unexpired term.[38]

Julie Spilsbury recall, Mesa, Arizona

See also: Julie Spilsbury recall, Mesa, Arizona (2025)

Voters in Mesa, Arizona, recalled District 2 City Councilwoman Julie Spilsbury on November 4, 2025, with 52.6% voting for her removal in favor of challenger Dorean Taylor.[39]

The recall effort began in January 2025 and cited Spilsbury's support for converting a hotel into a transitional housing site, raising council salaries, and increasing utility rates. [40]

Politico reported that Turning Point USA, the nonprofit founded by Charlie Kirk in 2012, helped collect signatures and canvassed against Spilsbury leading up to the recall vote.[41] Prior to the election, Spilsbury, a Republican, faced criticism from Turning Point USA's chief operating officer Tyler Bowyer for her endorsement of Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race.[40]

In response to criticism for her support of Harris, Spilsbury said at a July 2024 council meeting, "We do not serve a party; we serve the people of Mesa. ... That's how I've approached every vote, every decision and every congregation: with the goal of doing what’s right for our entire community regardless of political affiliation.”[42] Speaking to 12 News after initial election night results were released, Spilsbury said "I didn't lose to Dorean Taylor. I lost to Turning Point."[43]

Speaking to KJZZ following Spilsbury's recall, Taylor, also a Republican, said "I think party affiliation is important when you're running for anything, because everyone will have a bias no matter which party they’re in... I think it’s important to tell that to your voters so that if they don't talk to you, they kind of have an idea of which way you're going to vote.”[44]

Liberty Elementary School District recall, Arizona

See also: Michael Todd recall, Liberty Elementary School District, Arizona (2025)

An effort to recall Michael Todd from his position on the Liberty Elementary School District Governing Board in Arizona began in October 2025. Recall organizers have until January 31, 2026, to collect the 2,943 signatures required to trigger a recall election.[45]

The group Together for Liberty is organizing the recall effort. The grounds for the recall effort allege that Todd has “shown a lack of transparency, integrity, and commitment to student-first leadership” and that “the district has suffered instability, financial mismanagement, and loss of community trust” under Todd’s direction.[11][12]

In response to the recall effort, Todd wrote that it was initiated “by a fringe group of disgruntled former employees and activists who are not interested in holding administrators and teachers to account for low student proficiency.” Todd also wrote that "Every policy and direction of this Board is to ensure the highest quality of education, accountability and safety of our students. I am committed to do everything necessary to make that happen.”[11]

This is the fourth recall effort in the district since 2021. The recall efforts, one against two board members in 2021, one against one board member in 2023, and one against two board members earlier in 2025, did not go to a vote.

Todd was appointed to the governing board to replace Bryan Parks, who resigned on February 7, 2025. Parks was one of the board members whose recall was sought earlier in 2025.[11]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Oregon Secretary of State, "Prospective Petition - Recall (SEL 350)," accessed September 10, 2025
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Astorian, "Oregon Rep. Javadi recall petition filed — again," September 8, 2025
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Plain Dealer, "Cleveland Heights residents submit petitions to place mayoral recall on ballot," June 24, 2025
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 News 5, "Board of Elections says Cleveland Hts. mayor recall petition has enough signatures to move forward," June 25, 2025
  5. ↑ SF.gov, "Notice of Intention to Circulate Recall Petition," accessed June 16, 2025
  6. ↑ SF Elections, "November 5, 2024 Election Results (Final)," accessed June 16, 2025
  7. ↑ X, "Joel Engardio," accessed June 16, 2025
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Kansas City Star, "Could KC dark money group pull off Frank White recall? How much money it’s spent so far," accessed December 10, 2024
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 FOX 4, "Efforts to remove Jackson County Executive Frank White begin again," accessed December 10, 2024
  10. ↑ Mesa, AZ, "Special Recall Election 2025," accessed July 11, 2025
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 KJZZ, "Recall launched against the board president of Buckeye’s Liberty Elementary School District," October 4, 2025
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Office of the Maricopa County School Superintendent, "2025-25-003," accessed October 17, 2025
  13. ↑ Oregon Capitol Chronicle, "Conservative who once backed Republican state Rep. Cyrus Javadi attempts to get him recalled," July 1, 2025
  14. ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Initiatives, Referendums, Referrals and Recall," accessed December 11, 2025
  15. ↑ OPB, "Oregon state Rep. Cyrus Javadi switches political teams, registers as a Democrat," September 5, 2025
  16. ↑ Oregon Capital Chronicle, "Coastal Oregon lawmaker switches party affiliation, registering as Democrat," September 5, 2025
  17. ↑ Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, "Cuyahoga County, September 9, 2025 Primary Election," accessed December 12, 2025
  18. ↑ Cleveland 19 News, "Election 2019: Cleveland Heights Decides To Elect A Mayor In 2021," November 6, 2019
  19. ↑ Cleveland Jewish News, "Residents start campaign to recall Cleveland Heights mayor Khalil Seren," May 30, 2025
  20. ↑ The Plain Dealer, "Board of Elections verifies voter petitions for mayoral recall in Cleveland Heights (Updated)," June 26, 2025
  21. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  22. ↑ Cleveland 19 News, "Embattled Cleveland Heights mayor will not be on ballot for re-election: BOE," June 16, 2025
  23. ↑ Ideastream Public Media, "After dramatic year in Cleveland Heights, Councilmember Jim Petras elected next mayor," November 5, 2025
  24. ↑ San Francisco Department of Elections, "September 16, 2025 Election Results (Final)," accessed September 25, 2025
  25. ↑ SFist, "Supervisor Joel Engardio Ousted In First Ever Recall of Its Kind," September 17, 2025
  26. ↑ CBS News, "San Francisco residents upset over Great Highway car ban seek recall of Supervisor Joel Engardio," December 3, 2024
  27. ↑ SF.gov, "Member, Board of Supervisors District 4 Recall Election," accessed May 30, 2025
  28. ↑ SF.gov, "Proposition K," accessed June 11, 2025
  29. ↑ Joel Engardio District 4 Supervisor, "Great Highway Update: Statement on Recall Effort and Next Steps with Rec and Park," December 3, 2024
  30. ↑ SF Elections, "November 5, 2024 Election Results (Final)," accessed June 11, 2025
  31. ↑ SF.gov, "Member, Board of Supervisors District 4 Recall Election," accessed May 30, 2025
  32. ↑ CBS News, "San Francisco Supervisor Beya Alcaraz abruptly resigns after one week on the job," accessed November 14, 2025
  33. ↑ CBS News, "San Francisco mayor appoints Alan Wong to fill Sunset District supervisor seat," accessed November 30, 2025
  34. ↑ The Kansas City Star, "A mysterious new KC group is reigniting push to recall Frank White. Who’s paying for it?" accessed December 10, 2024
  35. ↑ KSHB, "Petition to recall Jackson County Executive Frank White receives enough signatures" June 30, 2025
  36. ↑ KMBC, "Election boards sue to delay Frank White recall election until November" July 11, 2025
  37. ↑ KCUR, "Frank White Jr. will face recall vote in Sept. 30 special election, Jackson County judge rules" August 4, 2025
  38. ↑ KCUR, "Attorney Phil LeVota named interim Jackson County executive after Frank White's recall " October 13, 2025
  39. ↑ Maricopa County Elections, "Unofficial 2025 Election Results," accessed November 5, 2025
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 azcentral.com, "Mesa Councilmember Julie Spilsbury, who backed Kamala Harris, faces recall effort," February 7, 2025
  41. ↑ Politico, "The low-profile local races with national implications," November 4, 2025
  42. ↑ KJZZ, "Mesa sets Nov. 4 date for Turning Point-backed City Council recall election," July 10, 2025
  43. ↑ 12 news, "Julie Spilsbury on initial results in Mesa recall election," November 4, 2025
  44. ↑ KJZZ, "Mesa councilwoman concedes defeat in a recall election triggered by Turning Point USA," November 5, 2025
  45. ↑ Office of the Maricopa County School Superintendent, "Recall Elections," accessed October 17, 2025
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