MADISON, Wis. (AP) 鈥 Wisconsin's top Republican lawmaker, who derided supporters of former President Donald Trump attempting to recall him from office as 鈥渨hack jobs and morons," on Thursday challenged the validity of thousands of signatures collected and declared the effort failed.
If the challenges are successful, there would be nowhere near enough valid signatures to for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.
because he refused to or proceed with attempting to decertify President Joe Biden鈥檚 2020 victory in Wisconsin. His actions angered Trump, who accused Vos of covering up election corruption, while Trump鈥檚 followers mounted an unsuccessful primary challenge in 2022 and are now trying to force a recall election.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission, based on its initial cursory review, determined there were collected from residents of the district Vos was elected to represent.
But Vos' district lines are changing under that take effect in November. The Wisconsin Elections Commission asked the state Supreme Court to determine which lines should be in place for any recall election. The answer to that would also determine how many signatures were needed to trigger the recall election.
The court gave parties until Thursday to respond to the request that it clarify the issue.
Vos contends that no matter what lines are used, petition circulators fell 鈥渨oefully short鈥 of the needed valid signatures to force a recall election. He also alleged the recall effort was 鈥減lagued with fraud and criminality.鈥
鈥淭his failed effort has proven to be what I said it would be from the beginning 鈥 a waste of time and resources," Vos said in a statement. 鈥淭hat is especially true for the residents whose identities have been stolen and the local officials who must now investigate these matters.鈥
The Racine County district attorney was also investigating claims that the petitions included names of people who did not sign it.
Petition organizers have alleged a wide array of conspiracy theories to explain why their petitions contained invalid signatures. They did not return a message seeking comment after Vos filed his challenges.
Based on the district Vos was elected to serve most recently in 2022, circulators needed 6,850 valid signatures. The elections commission has not determined how many signatures would be needed in the new district Vos will be living in for the November general election.
The elections commission to decide whether there are enough valid signatures to order a recall election. Its decision can be appealed in court.
The commission has said that if there were, a recall the primary would likely be on May 21 with the general election on June 18.
