Attempt to recall Speaker Vos falls short, election report concludes

 

MADISON Wis. (CBS 58) -- A recall petition against one of the most powerful Republican lawmakers has failed according to a new report by the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

After reviewing more than 10,000 signatures turned in seeking to recall Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a new report from commission staff found the effort was "insufficient" because not enough valid signatures were submitted.

On Thursday, the six members of the bipartisan commission will meet to further discuss the recommendation.

If commissioners vote to approve the report's findings, it would essentially kill the recall effort put forth by organizers who blame Vos for not doing enough to overturn the 2020 presidential election and impeaching the state's chief election officer, Meagan Wolfe.

Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) defended Vos and called out petitioners who sought to remove the longest serving Speaker.

"I think it was all done out of spite," Wanggaard said. "Vos had no authority to do what they asked him to do…they don't give that authority to the Speaker."

Still, organizers are not giving up. They have already launched a second recall attempt against Vos after WEC previously determined the group did not collect enough signatures in the correct legislative district for Vos.

It's an issue that has yet to be resolved after Gov. Tony Evers adopted new district lines earlier this year as it's unclear which districts, the old or the new, apply to recalls and special elections.

The first recall attempt failed largely in part because many signatures were forged which triggered an investigation by the Racine County District Attorney.