Cindy Grove and John Batcher recall, Valley, Nebraska (2025)
| Cindy Grove and John Batcher recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
John Batcher |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| November 4, 2025 |
| Signature requirement |
367 signatures (Batcher) |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2025 Recalls in Nebraska Nebraska recall laws City council recalls Mayoral recalls Recall reports |
An election to recall Mayor Cindy Grove and City Council President John Batcher was held on November 4, 2025, in Valley, Nebraska. Both officials were removed from their positions as a result of the recall vote.[1]
Grove was elected as Mayor of Valley in 2020. Batcher was elected to the Valley City Council in 2022.
Recall vote
Cindy Grove recall
Cindy Grove recall, 2025
Cindy Grove lost the Mayor of Valley recall election on November 4, 2025.
Recall Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✖ | Yes |
61.3
|
763 | ||
No |
38.7
|
481 | |||
Total Votes |
1,244 | ||||
|
|
John Batcher recall
John Batcher recall, 2025
John Batcher lost the Valley City Council recall election on November 4, 2025.
Recall Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✖ | Yes |
58.9
|
732 | ||
No |
41.1
|
511 | |||
Total Votes |
1,243 | ||||
|
|
Recall supporters
The petition to recall Grove read:[2]
| “ | The Mayor has violated open meeting laws, disrespected public input, and advanced costly projects without citizen consent. Her leadership lacks transparency, neglects critical needs like infrastructure, and fosters ethical concerns. A hostile work environment and employee retaliation persist under her administration. Valley deserves accountable, respectful leadership that listens to its people and prioritizes community well-being.[3] | ” |
The petition to recall Batcher read:[2]
| “ | Mr. Batcher's tenure is marked by a failure of leadership and a breach of public trust. He has been unable to effectively guide the city council, while his clear conflicts of interest in official city dealings and votes show he prioritizes personal and special interests and investments over his duty to the citizens.[3] | ” |
Valley resident Christena Jensen filed the recall petitions.[2]
Recall opponents
In a statement to KETV, Grove said:[2]
| “ | The recall effort is a disappointing and politically motivated attempt to undermine the progress we’ve made in Valley. It is rooted in personal animosity and longstanding hostility toward me, not in facts or failures. This is a divisive tactic aimed at reversing forward momentum and progress through resentment and misinformation. I was elected to lead with integrity, transparency, and accountability — and I’ve done that. We’ve prioritized infrastructure, public safety, and responsible governance to serve the recent growth spurt and Valley's long-term interests. While I respect the democratic process, this recall distracts from the real work of serving our community. I remain committed to serving the people of Valley, not special interests or personal grudges.[3] | ” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Nebraska
No specific grounds are required for recall in Nebraska.[4] The number of signatures required to put the recall on the ballot depends on the office type. A majority of offices require signatures equal to 35% of the total vote cast for that office in the last general election.[5] Petition signatures must be filed within 30 days of the filing clerk issuing the petitions.[6]
On August 13, 2025, recall organizers submitted signatures submitted petition signatures to the Douglas County Election Commission.[7]
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
- Valley, Nebraska
- Recall campaigns in Nebraska
- Political recall efforts, 2025
- City council recalls
- Mayoral recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ WOWT, "Election Results," accessed November 5, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 KETV, "Valley citizen starts recall efforts against mayor and city council president," accessed July 11, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "Nebraska Revised Statute 32-1304," accessed May 27, 2021
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "Nebraska Revised Statute 32-1303," accessed October 16, 2023
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "Nebraska Revised Statute 32-1305," accessed October 16, 2023
- ↑ WOWT, "Paperwork filed at Douglas County Elections Commission to recall Valley mayor, city council president," August 13, 2025
