The Recall Revolution That Wasn’t

Once upon a time, California and Colorado were models of direct democracy.
Voters could recall any elected official, for any reason — no hearings, no bureaucracy, just signatures and a ballot.

But after a few inconvenient recalls embarrassed Democrats, both states’ legislatures rewrote the rules.
Today, the recall process has been slow-walked, priced out, and buried under red tape.

If it feels harder to hold politicians accountable — it’s because it is.

Side-by-Side: The Recall Rules

Sources: CA Elections Code §11101, CO Const. Art. XXI §1

California’s Crackdown: Protecting Power, Not Voters

When State Senator Josh Newman was recalled in 2018 over his gas-tax vote, Democrats lost their supermajority — for just five months.
That brief scare triggered years of “reform” designed to make sure it never happens again.

Key Changes

1. SB 660 (2023) – Banned per-signature pay for petition gatherers.
   → Now only big unions or PACs can afford the salaries.
   → Grassroots groups priced out.

2. SCA 1 (2024, on 2026 ballot) – Kills the replacement vote.
   → The Lieutenant Governor would fill a recalled governor’s seat — no election, no choice.
   → Translation: one-party insurance.

3. SB 96 (2017, struck down) – Tried to delay the Newman recall by 30 days.
   → Courts called it unconstitutional. The intent was clear: stall, stall, stall.

Colorado Follows Suit

After two Democratic senators were recalled in 2013 over gun-control votes, Colorado’s political class took notes.
Since then, over 350 recall petitions have been filed — and virtually all have failed.

Key Changes

1. HB21-1060 (2021) – Requires estimated election costs on every petition.
   → Bureaucratic delay: adds 30–60 days before circulation.

2. Proposed SB22-XXX (2022) – Would have banned recalls near regular elections.
   → A timing trick lifted straight from California.

3. 2023 Ethics Rule – Petition circulators must list their top 3 funders on every page.
   → Sounds like transparency; acts like intimidation.

Results: Accountability in Freefall

The price of “stability”? Politicians get job security. Voters lose leverage.

Why It Matters

• Accountability is dying.
  The recall was meant to keep officials humble. Instead, lawmakers rewrote it to protect themselves.

• Money talks, citizens walk.
  By outlawing bounty pay, Democrats made sure only well-funded organizations — usually their allies — can play.

• Democracy without choice isn’t democracy.
  If SCA 1 passes, voters won’t even pick a replacement. Sacramento will.

What Voters Can Do

1. Oppose SCA 1 on California’s 2026 ballot.
2. Watch Colorado’s 2026 session for more recall restrictions.
3. Demand transparency — public signature dashboards, not political gatekeeping.

Final Word

The recall was created to protect the people from politicians —
not politicians from the people.

If firing a failed official takes more effort than electing one,
then “direct democracy” has become a slogan, not a system.

It’s time to take it back.