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Bill Hayden recall, Sussex County, New Jersey (2024)

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Bill Hayden recall
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Officeholders
Bill Hayden
Recall status
Did not go to a vote
Signature requirement
27,258[1]
See also
Recall overview
Political recall efforts, 2024
Recalls in New Jersey
New Jersey recall laws
County official recalls
Recall reports

An effort to recall Sussex County Commissioner Bill Hayden was initiated on May 23, 2024.[2] The recall attempt was launched by a group of Sussex County Republican Committee members, and supporters needed 27,258 valid signatures in order to move the recall process forward. The recall attempt was unsuccessful after recall organizers failed to gather a sufficient number of signatures.[1]

Recall supporters

Recall organizers alleged that Hayden committed stolen valor by claiming to be a Navy SEAL and Marine during his campaign for the county commission. An investigation by the United States Navy confirmed that Hayden never served as a Navy SEAL.[3] Several elected officials in New Jersey have called for Hayden to resign, including Congressmen Thomas Kean Jr., Andy Kim, and Josh Gottheimer.[2]

Recall opponents

In response to the recall petition's failure, Hayden said: “this whole undertaking was a fool’s errand...If he had done his research, Joe Labarbera would have known there was no way they could come up with that many signatures in so little time.”[2]

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing recall in New Jersey

No specific grounds are required for recall in New Jersey. To begin the recall process, at least three registered voters in the jurisdiction must form a recall committee and notify the appropriate election official of the names and addresses of at least three members of the recall committee. To get the recall on the ballot, supporters must collect signatures equal to 25% of the registered voters in the jurisdiction as of the last general election in 160 days.[4][5][6]

Recall context

See also: Ballotpedia's Recall Report

Ballotpedia covers recall efforts across the country for all state and local elected offices. A recall effort is considered official if the petitioning party has filed an official form, such as a notice of intent to recall, with the relevant election agency.

The chart below shows how many officials were included in recall efforts from 2012 to 2024 as well as how many of them defeated recall elections to stay in office and how many were removed from office in recall elections.


See also

External links

Footnotes