Brian Bitner recall, Burleigh County, North Dakota (2025)
| Brian Bitner recall |
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| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2025 Recalls in North Dakota North Dakota recall laws County commission recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Burleigh County Commissioner Brian Bitner is underway in North Dakota. The effort was launched on February 20, 2025, after organizers filed a recall petition with the North Dakota Secretary of State's Office. If the Secretary of State approves the petition, recall organizers will have one year to collect 12,858 signatures to get the recall on the ballot.[1]
Recall supporters
Recall organizers cited the following reasons for Bitner's recall in their petition:[2]
| “ |
We, the undersigned, being qualified electors request that Brian Bitner, Burleigh County Commissioner be recalled for the reasons of: 1. Abuse of his position 2. Contempt for the voters of Burleigh County [3] |
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Recall opponents
Bitner responded to the recall petition by saying: "I’m the least concerned with power of anyone I know. I’ve been a leader my whole life. I don’t have to prove anything with abusing power. That’s ridiculous."[2] In comments to The Bismark Tribune, Bitner further addded: "I don't know how either one of those (reasons) are possible. I would expect to see some better explanation than that...I am an elected commissioner, and I don't know how either of those could be justified."[1]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in North Dakota
No specific grounds are required for recall in North Dakota. The number of signatures required to get the recall on the ballot varies depending on the office type. The number of signatures is equal to either 25% or 35% of voters who cast ballots in the most recent election in which the official sought to be recalled was on the ballot. Petitions must be submitted within 90 days.[4][5]
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
- Ballotpedia's Recall Report
- Burleigh County, North Dakota
- Recall campaigns in North Dakota
- Political recall efforts, 2025
- County commission recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Bismarck Tribune, "Group seeks recall of Burleigh County Commissioner Brian Bitner," accessed April 3, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 KFYR TV, "Group gathering signatures in effort to recall Burleigh County Commissioner Brian Bitner," accessed April 2, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ North Dakota Secretary of State, "2023-2025 RECALLING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL OF THE STATE OR A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION," accessed October 17, 2023
- ↑ Bill Track 50, "ND SB2269," accessed April 29, 2025
