Madison, Wisconsin – The bipartisan elections commission in Wisconsin has made a decision regarding a petition aimed at triggering a recall election for the state’s top elected Republican, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. The petition, fueled by displeasure from supporters of former President Donald Trump, was denied based on insufficient valid signatures. Vos sparked controversy by refusing to decertify President Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 election, further alienating Trump supporters by not supporting a plan to impeach Meagan Wolfe, the state’s elections official.
The staff at the Wisconsin Elections Commission recommended dismissing the petition due to a lack of valid signatures, leading to a unanimous vote by the commission to reject the recall effort. Republican commissioner Bob Spindell emphasized the arithmetic issue, stating that the petitions fell significantly short, confirming the decision. Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who had been hired by Vos to investigate the 2020 election before being dismissed, represented the petition circulators and attributed the failure of the recall effort to deliberate sabotage.
Gableman alleged that external interference from individuals in New York and Florida contributed to the collapse of the recall effort, a claim that was reported to the FBI. Vos, on the other hand, dismissed the organizers of the petition as “whack jobs and morons,” previously declaring the initial attempt as unsuccessful, questioning the validity of numerous signatures. As the longest-serving Assembly speaker in Wisconsin history, Vos holds a considerable amount of power within the GOP-led Legislature.
Recognizing the shortcomings of their initial endeavor, the recall organizers have initiated a secondary recall effort, which is currently ongoing and pending submission to the elections commission for evaluation. Despite facing criticism and opposition, Vos remains a prominent figure in Wisconsin politics, navigating challenges and controversies within the state’s political landscape. The rejection of the recall petition underscores the complex dynamics at play and the ongoing tensions within the Wisconsin political arena.