The Wisconsin Elections Commission has rejected a petition for a recall election targeting Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, the state’s top elected Republican who has faced criticism from former President Donald Trump and his supporters. The recall effort was launched by Trump backers who were unhappy with Vos’ decisions regarding the certification of President Joe Biden’s win in Wisconsin and his refusal to support a plan to impeach the state’s top elections official, Meagan Wolfe.
Despite arguments from former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who represented the petition circulators and claimed the effort was sabotaged, the commission unanimously voted to reject the petition due to a lack of valid signatures. Gableman alleged that the recall effort was infiltrated by outsiders from New York and Florida, a claim that has been reported to the FBI. Vos, on the other hand, dismissed the petition organizers as “whack jobs and morons,” and expressed confidence in the failure of the recall effort.
Recognizing that their initial attempt fell short, recall organizers have launched a second recall effort, which is currently ongoing. Vos, who has been the longest-serving Assembly speaker in Wisconsin history, remains a prominent figure in the GOP-led Legislature. The outcome of the second recall effort remains to be seen as it awaits submission to the elections commission for review.