Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Timeline of events of the recall of Wisconsin State Senators in 2011
From Ballotpedia
|
| 2011 calendar |
|---|
This page presents a timeline of events that ultimately led to widespread recall of Wisconsin State Senators in 2011.
February
- 15: Assembly Bill 11, better known as the "Scott Walker Budget Repair Bill" is introduced by the request of the governor.
- 17: All 14 Democratic members of the Wisconsin State Senate walkout.
- 19: Recall papers filed against Jim Holperin (D - Dist. 12)
- 22: Recall papers filed against Robert Wirch (D - Dist. 22)
- 25: The Assembly passes the bill.
- 30: Recall papers filed against Dave Hansen (D - Dist. 30)
March
- 2: Committee to recall Luther Olsen is formed.
- Recall papers filed against Robert Cowles (R - Dist. 2)
- Recall papers filed against Alberta Darling (R - Dist. 8)
- Recall papers filed against Sheila Harsdorf (R - Dist. 10)
- Recall papers filed against Luther Olsen (R - Dist. 14)
- Recall papers filed against Randy Hopper (R - Dist. 18)
- Recall papers filed against Dan Kapanke (R - Dist. 32)
- 9: Senate Republicans amend the bill, passing the revised version which includes limits on collective bargaining.
- 11: Gov. Scott Walker signs the Budget Repair Bill into law.
April
- 1: 22,975 signatures to recall Dan Kapanke are filed with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, 15,588 are required. It is the first set of signatures submitted.
- 7: About 22,500 signatures to recall Randy Hopper are filed with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, 15,269 are necessary to force a recall.
- 13: Democrat Jessica King announces she would run against Randy Hopper in a recall.
- 15: Sen. Dan Kapanke officially challenges the recall petition against him.
- 18: About 24,000 signatures to recall Luther Olsen are filed with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, 14,733 are necessary to force a recall.
- 19: About 23,000 signatures to recall Sheila Harsdorf are filed with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, 15,744 are necessary.
- 21: Democratic state Rep. Fred Clark announces he would run against Luther Olsen in a recall.
- Sen. Randy Hopper officially challenges the recall petition against him.
- About 18,300 signatures to recall Robert Wirch are filed with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.
- About 23,000 signatures to recall Jim Holperin are filed withe Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.
- About 18,870 signatures to recall Dave Hansen are filed with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.
- About 30,000 signatures to recall Alberta Darling are filed with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.
- 28: About 26,000 signatures to recall Robert Cowles are filed with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board
- Sen. Luther Olsen officially challenges the recall petition against him.
May
- 3: Democrat Shelly Moore announces she would run against Sheila Harsdorf in a recall.
- Sen. Sheila Harsdorf officially challenges the recall petition against her.
- 5: Democrats challenge the recall petitions against Dave Hansen, Jim Holperin, and Robert Wirch, alleging widespread fraud.
- Tea Party leader Kim Simac announces she would run against Jim Holperin in a recall.
- Democratic state Rep. Sandy Pasch files papers to run against Alberta Darling if a recall election takes place.
- Sen. Alberta Darling officially challenges the recall petition against her.
- 6: Sen. Robert Cowles officially challenges the recall petition against him.
- 9: The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board verifies 22,381 signatures on the petition to recall Luther Olsen, 23,127 on the petition to recall Randy Hopper, and 21,868 on the petition to recall Dan Kapanke.
- 10: Republican state Assemblyman John Nygren announces he would run against Dave Hansen in a recall.
- 16: Deadline for signatures to be turned in in the final recall campaign. The campaign, which is against Democrat Julie Lassa, fails, collecting only one-third of the signatures necessary.
- Rich Langan, who had announced he would challenge incumbent Robert Cowles in a recall, withdraws from the race. Nancy Nusbaum replaces him on the Democratic ticket.
- 18: Robert Lussow announces he would run against Jim Holperin in a recall.
- The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board announces it has examined and unanimously dismissed "hundreds of complaints" it received related to tactics used by both Republicans and Democrats in connection with the budget repair bill.
- 22: David VanderLeest, organizer of the "Recall Dave Hansen" campaign, declares he will run against Hansen in a recall election.
- 23: At a special meeting of the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board to consider the sufficiency of recall petitions against Dan Kapanke, Randy Hopper, and Luther Olsen, the board rejects most challenges clearing the way for recalls on all three.
- 26: Brown County Board Vice Chair Mary Scray announces she will drop out of race against Dave Hansen and endorses John Nygren.
- 27: The GAB announces it will be unable to consider the recall petitions for the three Democratic incumbents - Hansen, Holperin, and Wirch - at the May 31 meeting as originally planned, citing "numerous factual and legal issues."
- 31: At a special meeting of the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board to consider the sufficiency of recall petitions against Sheila Harsdorf, Alberta Darling, Robert Cowles, the Board rejects most challenges, clearing the way for recalls on all three.
- Lawyers for Republicans Dan Kapanke, Luther Olsen, and Randy Hopper file complaints in Dane County Circuit Court seeking to block the recall elections approved by the GAB.
June
- 3: The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board receives a one-week court extension of the deadline to review recall petitions against Democrats Jim Holperin, Robert Wirch, and Dave Hansen. The GAB certifies the recall elections of Republicans Robert Cowles, Alberta Darling, Sheila Harsdorf, Luther Olsen, Randy Hopper, and Dan Kapanke.
- 8: After nearly 9 hours of deliberations, the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board certifies recall petitions against Democrats Jim Holperin, Robert Wirch, and Dave Hansen, setting the recall elections for July 19.
- 10: Democrats announce that, due to "fake" Democrats running in all of the primaries on July 12, the party will not run "placeholder" candidates Mert Summers, Nicholas Brehm, and Robert Forseth.
- 14: Deadline for challengers to file to run in the 6 Republican recalls. 15 potential candidates file papers.
- 17: Democrats remove the 3 "placeholder" candidates they were running.
- 21: Deadline for challengers to file to run in the 3 Democratic recalls. 6 potential candidates file papers.
- 24: Democrats file challenges against 4 of the candidates who filed to run in Democratic recalls.
- 27: At a special meeting to review the challenges, the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board denies John Nygren ballot access for not having enough valid signatures.
July
- 1: Dane County Judge Richard Niess denies John Nygren’s appeal to be placed on the ballot in the District 30 recall election against Dave Hansen.
- 12: Primaries were held for recall elections against Republicans Robert Cowles, Alberta Darling, Sheila Harsdorf, Luther Olsen, Randy Hopper, and Dan Kapanke. The primary winners will face the incumbent in the recall election on August 9. The Democratic primaries were won by Nancy Nusbaum, Sandy Pasch, Shelly Moore, Fred Clark, Jessica King and Jennifer Shilling.
- 19: Primaries were held for recall elections against Democrats Jim Holperin and Robert Wirch. The primary winners will face the incumbent in the recall elections on August 16. The Republican primaries were won by Kim Simac and Jonathan Steitz.
- The first recall election took place between incumbent Dave Hansen (D) and David VanderLeest (R), with Hansen easily retaining his seat.
August
- 9: Recall elections were held against Republican incumbents Robert Cowles, Alberta Darling, Sheila Harsdorf, Luther Olsen, Randy Hopper, and Dan Kapanke. Darling, Harsdorf and Olsen held on to their seats, while Hopper lost to Jessica King and Dan Kapanke was defeated by Jennifer Shilling. Republicans held onto control of the Senate by a margin of 17-16.
- 16: Recall elections were held against Democratic incumbents Jim Holperin and Robert Wirch. Both successfully held onto their seats.
See also
- Recall of Wisconsin State Senators (2011)
- Alberta Darling recall, Wisconsin State Senate (2011)
- Dan Kapanke recall, Wisconsin State Senate (2011)
- Dave Hansen recall, Wisconsin State Senate (2011)
- Jim Holperin recall, Wisconsin State Senate (2011)
- Randy Hopper recall, Wisconsin State Senate (2011)
- Robert Cowles recall, Wisconsin State Senate (2011)
- Sheila Harsdorf recall, Wisconsin State Senate (2011)
- Robert Wirch recall, Wisconsin State Senate (2011)
- Luther Olsen recall, Wisconsin State Senate (2011)
