The past year has seen a flurry of attempted recalls as Arizona grassroots activists, motivated largely by frustration over mask mandates and Covid-related policies, or by resistance to election integrity efforts, have targeted a number of Republican office holders for recall.
The passion of those involved and the tens of thousands of signatures collected serve as a reminder that ordinary citizens can, in sufficient numbers, make a difference in today’s political world. The failure of every one of the efforts also serves as a reminder that winning in politics takes more than passion.
“To be fair, trying to recall elected officials right after a general election with a massive turnout makes life a lot more difficult.” said Constantin Querard, an Arizona conservative consultant, who explained that the number of signatures required to force a recall varies with the number of votes cast in the recent election, and that the record 2020 turnout meant very large numbers of signatures were required. Still, most of the recalls closed up without disclosing how many signatures were collected in the meantime, suggesting most of the efforts were well short of their goals.
The one effort that managed to collect more than the minimum number was the recall of Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers. 22,331 signatures from District 25 voters were required and last week organizers filed approximately 24,500 signatures, just barely more than the minimum. While political observers like Querard had doubts there would be enough valid signatures in the batch, “it was possible that they had enough valid signatures in what they collected and turned in, so they get credit for at least giving themselves a chance.”
Unfortunately for organizers, they failed to follow Arizona law and have a date-stamped recall application attached to each petition, as required by Arizona law. That meant the Arizona Secretary of State ruled every single petition invalid, and the effort appears to have died as a result.
“It boggles the mind” said one political consultant who asked to remain anonymous because of his personal relationships with some recall organizers, “because they had money, real money, but no one hired a pro to guide them through the process? How do you explain to your donors and volunteers that every dollar and every hour was wasted because no one bothered to read the rules?”
Organizers of the recall have not yet conceded and, in some communications actually appear to be claiming victory. One email sent to activists quoted Steve and Karen Slaton (referred to as the recall leaders) and claimed the recall had taken “a huge step forward” with the filing, making no mention that the recall had actually ended in defeat.
“The signatures to Recall Arizona Speaker of the House, Rusty Bowers were submitted yesterday (Thursday June 17th). It’s time for Speaker Bowers to do right by his constituents in LD25 (his LD will pick his replacement), and the entire state of Arizona, and resign. #ResignRusty. We the People, after months and appeals to Bowers to call a special session of the legislature (since Nov 4 2020), to stop the Electoral College delegation and review the 2020 election results, failed as a public servant. Bowers was put in place by the people to govern in a wise and constitutional manner for the good of the people! His failure is reason to recall these elected officials. Rep Bowers is the first to go.”
Speaker Bowers has given no indication that he has ever considered resigning and has already claimed victory in the battle, mocking those who attempted the recall in the first place.
“If you’re Bowers, the fact that your recall is the only one in the state that actually came close to succeeding should be a sobering thing, but he could care less.” said the consultant, “The problem is it is another swing and miss for the grassroots and that actually can backfire and make elected officials less concerned about recalls in the future.”
Arizonans frustrated by their elected officials still have recall provisions in the law and, recalls have been successful in the past. But it appears that more than ever, all volunteer efforts without serious money and professional assistance, will be uphill battles that favor the status quo.