The attempt to recall Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has officially failed after organizers missed the deadline to submit enough signatures.
The political group behind the effort, called Oregon for the People, hoped to remove Kotek from office but could not collect the nearly 293,000 valid signatures required to place the recall on the ballot.
What Was the Recall About
In July, the group launched a recall petition accusing Governor Kotek of failing in her leadership duties. They claimed she supported policies that helped undocumented immigrants instead of Oregon citizens, including veterans and low-income families.
Organizers argued that her actions caused Oregon to lose federal funding, leading to higher taxes.
Despite strong words, the recall campaign failed to gather wide public or financial support.
Deadline and Legal Challenge
The petitioners had until October 27, 2025, to submit at least 292,933 valid signatures to the Oregon Secretary of State’s office. When the deadline passed, not a single signature had been turned in.
Organizer William Minnix tried to extend the deadline by filing a legal request in federal court, arguing that there were errors in state forms. However, the judge rejected the motion, and the U.S. Court of Appeals also declined to intervene.
Reasons Behind the Failure
The recall campaign struggled for several reasons:
- High Signature Requirement: Collecting nearly 293,000 signatures in 90 days was a massive task.
- Limited Time: Petitioners only had three months to gather signatures across Oregon.
- Lack of Organization and Funding: The group did not have a strong team or enough money to run a statewide campaign.
- Weak Public Support: There was little evidence of widespread anger or dissatisfaction strong enough to fuel a recall.
Recall Requirements in Oregon
Here is a simple summary of how recall efforts work in Oregon:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Signatures Needed | 292,933 valid signatures (15% of the votes in the last governor election) |
| Time Limit | 90 days from petition approval |
| Authority | Oregon Secretary of State manages the process |
| Submission | Must be filed before the deadline to qualify for a ballot vote |
History of Recalls in Oregon
Oregon has a long history of failed attempts to recall governors. Former Governor Kate Brown faced at least five recall efforts, and none came close to success. Since the recall process was introduced in 1908, no Oregon governor has ever been removed through it.
At the local level, recalls happen more often and sometimes succeed. For example, local officials in Prairie City and Unity were recalled recently. But statewide recalls are rare and usually fail because they require massive organization and strong voter motivation.
National Recall Trends
Across the United States, recall efforts against governors are uncommon and rarely successful. Since 2003, only two governors have ever been removed by recall: Gray Davis of California in 2003 and a few local-level officials in other states.
Other governors, such as Gavin Newsom of California and Scott Walker of Wisconsin, survived recall votes and even gained popularity afterward.
Political Impact
The failure of this recall attempt may shape Oregon’s 2026 election. Former Republican candidate Christine Drazan, who narrowly lost to Kotek in 2022, is expected to run again. However, history shows that unseating a sitting governor in Oregon is difficult—the last time it happened was in 1978.
The lack of support for this recall suggests that while some voters may disagree with Kotek’s policies, there isn’t enough statewide momentum to remove her from office.
The recall effort against Oregon Governor Tina Kotek shows how hard it is to remove an elected official through a petition. Without strong funding, organization, and broad voter support, such attempts rarely succeed.
Although the campaign failed, it highlights the challenges of running a recall in a large state like Oregon. As the 2026 election approaches, both Kotek and her opponents will likely focus on traditional campaigning instead of recall efforts.