Chris Nanos recall, Pima County, Arizona (2026)
| Pima County Sheriff recall |
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| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2026 Recalls in Arizona Arizona recall laws Sheriff recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is underway in Arizona. The recall effort was launched on March 12, 2026, by Daniel Butierez. Recall supporters have until July 10, 2026, to gather 122,211 signatures to trigger a recall election.[2][1]
Recall supporters
Recall organizers submitted the following statement in their recall application:[2]
| “ |
We, the undersigned registered voters of Pima County, Arizona, seek the recall of Sheriff Chris Nanos. We believe the leadership of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department must maintain transparency, accountability, and the confidence of the community it serves. The Sheriff holds a position of significant public trust and is responsible for ensuring that the department operates with professionalism, fairness, and fiscal responsibility. Many residents believe that new leadership is necessary to restore confidence and ensure the Sheriff's Office is fully responsive to the needs and expectations of the people of Pima County. This recall petition is filed so that the voters of Pima County may exercise their constitutional right to decide whether Sheriff Chris Nanos should remain in office or whether new leadership is needed. [3] |
” |
Recall opponents
In response to the recall attempt, Nanos said: "We're aware of the recall, and it's the right of the people...We'll always honor the will of the people, and that's what makes Democracy."[2] Nanos added: "If the voters aren't happy with me and they vote me out, that's okay."[2]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Arizona
No specific grounds are required for recall in Arizona. To begin the recall process, supporters must file an application for a recall petition that must be approved by the relevant election office. To get the recall on the ballot, supporters must collect signatures equal to 25% of the votes cast for all candidates at the last election for the relevant office in 120 days.[4]
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 2025 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
- Pima County, Arizona
- Recall campaigns in Arizona
- Political recall efforts, 2026
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 12 News, "Recall effort launched against Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos," March 18, 2026
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 KOLD News 13, "Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos facing recall effort," March 18, 2026
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "Recall," accessed October 16, 2023
