Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Imelda Padilla recall, Los Angeles, California (2025)
| Imelda Padilla recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2025 Recalls in California California recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall District 6 City Councilmember Imelda Padilla is underway in Los Angeles, California. Recall organizers filed a notice of intent to recall with the city clerk's office on September 2, 2025.[1][2]
Recall supporters
In the recall paperwork filed with the city, organizers said, "Our community deserves ethical, responsive, and committed leadership. The recall of Council member Padilla is not just about one vote or one issue — it is about restoring trust and ensuring our council truly reflects and serves the will of the people."[3]
Recall opponents
Padilla has said, "Our office is focused on the work at hand, improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods, keeping our youth, seniors and families safe. That is priority number one, and nothing will distract us from that critical work. As our community evolves and grows, we are here to engage with all stakeholders."[4]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in California
No specific grounds are required for recall in California. The recall process starts with a notice of intention to recall. The notice must be served to the officer whose recall is being sought as well as published in a newspaper of general circulation. The notice must then be filed with the relevant election office. Once the notice has been deemed sufficient by the election office, a petition must also be filed and approved by the election office. Once the petition is approved, it can be circulated. To get a recall on the ballot, supporters must collect signatures from registered voters in the jurisdiction. The number of signatures required is between 10% and 30% of registered voters in the jurisdiction, depending on the size of the jurisdiction. Jurisdictions with 1,000 registered voters or fewer require 30%, and jurisdictions with 100,000 or more registered voters require 10%. Charter cities can also set their own signature threshold. The amount of time allowed for the circulation of recall petitions also varies by the number of registered voters in a jurisdiction, between 40 and 160 days. Jurisdictions with fewer than 1,000 registered voters allow 40 days, and jurisdictions with more than 50,000 registered voters allow 160 days.[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
- Los Angeles, California
- Recall campaigns in California
- Political recall efforts, 2025
- City council recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ NBC Los Angeles, "LA Councilmember Imelda Padilla faces recall petition," September 3, 2025
- ↑ Office of the City Clerk, "Petition History," accessed September 17, 2025
- ↑ Parriva, "Why LA Councilmember Imelda Padilla Is Facing a Recall," September 9, 2025
- ↑ Spectrum News 1, "Frustrated residents say long-standing issues are fueling effort to recall Padilla," September 10, 2025
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Recall Procedures Guide 2023," accessed October 16, 2023
