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Ted Wheeler recall, Portland, Oregon (2021)
| Portland Mayoral recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2021 Recalls in Oregon Oregon recall laws Mayoral recalls Recall reports |
An effort in Portland, Oregon, to recall Mayor Ted Wheeler was initiated in July 2021. Recall organizers filed petitions with the Portland City Auditor's Office on July 1, 2021. Petitioners had until October 6, 2021, to submit at least 47,788 valid signatures to put the recall election on the ballot.[1][2] Volunteers with the recall effort began collecting signatures on July 9, 2021.[3][4]
On September 24, 2021, Portland election officials rejected a request from recall organizers to extend the deadline for gathering signatures. The extension was requested on the grounds that COVID-19 and a summer heat wave prevented petitioners from gathering enough signatures. Election officials said that social distancing requirements had been lifted and the most extreme heat had passed by the time the recall effort was launched.[5][6]
On October 5, 2021, recall organizers filed a lawsuit in federal court, arguing that the Oregon Constitution does not establish time limits on recall efforts. The suit stated that the 90-day deadline to gather signatures created too great of a burden, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, historic heat conditions, and economic circumstances that limited political contributions.[7] Judge Michael Mosman dismissed the lawsuit on November 3, 2021.[8]
Recall supporters
The recall effort was organized by Total Recall PDX. Audrey Caines was hired in June 2021 to work as campaign manager for the recall.[1] Melissa Blount was named chief petitioner. Petition language cited the following as reasons for a recall election:[2][9]
| “ |
Portland has endured years of crisis. When we needed a leader to solve problems, Ted Wheeler’s inaction made our challenges worse. Portlanders have lost confidence that their government will be there in times of need. Our city is full of goodhearted, decent residents. We should be an example to the world. Instead, with Wheeler as mayor, we have veered off course and our city’s reputation has been tarnished. A recall is an expression of democracy designed to remove politicians who aren’t serving effectively. Portlanders are ready to recover and we can’t afford to waste the next three-and-a-half years. Portland deserves better than an uninspiring mayor reelected with less than 47% of the vote. We deserve a mayor who was elected without illegally loaning his campaign $150,000 of his personal money. Our neighbors, families, and businesses deserve a mayor who prioritizes their safety and well-being. Ted Wheeler has repeatedly demonstrated to too many of us that he does not serve this city. Portlanders deserve a fresh start.[10] |
” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Oregon
The number of valid signatures required to force a recall election in Oregon is 15% of the total number of votes cast in the public officer’s electoral district for all candidates for governor at the last election at which a candidate for governor was elected to a full term. Signatures are required to be turned in no later than 90 days after the petition is filed.
Recall organizers filed petitions with the Portland City Auditor's Office on July 1, 2021. Petitioners had until October 6, 2021, to submit 47,788 valid signatures in order to put the recall election on the ballot.[1][2] Volunteers with the recall effort began collecting signatures on July 9, 2021.[3][4]
Election history
2020
See also: Mayoral election in Portland, Oregon (2020)
General election
General election for Mayor of Portland
Incumbent Ted Wheeler defeated Sarah Iannarone and Teressa Raiford in the general election for Mayor of Portland on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Ted Wheeler (Nonpartisan) | 46.0 | 166,543 |
 | Sarah Iannarone (Nonpartisan) | 40.8 | 147,437 | |
 | Teressa Raiford (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)  | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 13.2 | 47,703 | ||
| Total votes: 361,683 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Portland
The following candidates ran in the primary for Mayor of Portland on May 19, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ted Wheeler (Nonpartisan) | 49.1 | 109,159 |
| ✔ | | Sarah Iannarone (Nonpartisan) | 24.0 | 53,306 |
| Teressa Raiford (Nonpartisan) | 8.5 | 18,950 | |
| Ozzie Gonzalez (Nonpartisan) | 5.8 | 12,928 | ||
 | Bruce Broussard (Nonpartisan) | 5.2 | 11,589 | |
| Randy Rapaport (Nonpartisan) | 1.8 | 3,943 | ||
| Piper Crowell (Nonpartisan) | 1.5 | 3,353 | ||
| Mark White (Nonpartisan) | 1.1 | 2,346 | ||
 | Cash Carter (Nonpartisan) | 0.7 | 1,539 | |
| Sharon Joy (Nonpartisan) | 0.4 | 926 | ||
| Willie Banks (Nonpartisan) | 0.4 | 807 | ||
| Daniel Hoffman (Nonpartisan) | 0.3 | 715 | ||
 | Michael O'Callaghan (Nonpartisan) | 0.3 | 658 | |
| Michael Burleson (Nonpartisan) | 0.2 | 426 | ||
| Lew Humble (Nonpartisan) | 0.1 | 311 | ||
| Beryl McNair (Nonpartisan) | 0.1 | 268 | ||
| Michael Jenkins (Nonpartisan) | 0.1 | 267 | ||
| Jarred Bepristis (Nonpartisan) | 0.0 | 107 | ||
| Floyd La Bar (Nonpartisan) | 0.0 | 100 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 680 | ||
| Total votes: 222,378 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
See also
External links
- Government website of Portland, Oregon
- Total Recall PDX official website
- Total Recall PDX on Facebook
- Total Recall PDX on Twitter
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Oregonian, "Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler recall effort hires campaign manager, plans July launch," June 1, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wilamette Wek, "Here’s the Pitch You’ll be Hearing for Why to Recall Ted Wheeler, in 200 Words," July 1, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Facebook, "Recall Wheeler," July 9, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 OPB, "The push to oust Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has officially begun," July 9, 2021
- ↑ Portland Tribune, "Report: Portland mayor recall drive will fail," October 2, 2021
- ↑ Willamette Week, "City Elections Office Denies Request for 90-Day Extension From Campaign to Recall Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler," October 2, 2021
- ↑ Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Effort to recall Ted Wheeler fading as organizers sue for more time," October 6, 2021
- ↑ Portland Mercury, "The Campaign to Recall Mayor Ted Wheeler is Officially Over," November 8, 2021
- ↑ Total Recall PDX, "Electronic Signature Sheet," accessed July 23, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
