Garlin Gilchrist recall, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan (2020-2021)

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Michigan Lieutenant Governor recall
Officeholders
Garlin Gilchrist
Recall status
Did not go to a vote
See also
Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2021 Recalls in Michigan Michigan recall laws State executive recalls Recall reports

Six efforts to recall Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist (D) were launched in 2021. All six efforts were rejected by the Michigan Board of State Canvassers at the July 26, 2021, meeting.

Two efforts against Gilchrist were launched in 2020. One effort was considered by the Michigan Board of State Canvassers on August 11, 2020. The board approved the recall petition for circulation. A second recall petition was rejected by the board on September 2, 2020.

Supporters of the approved recall effort needed to submit 1,062,647 signatures within a 60-day period to force a recall election. The 60 days begin on the first day that signatures are collected. The recall petition must be submitted to the office of Michigan's secretary of state no later than 180 days after it was approved by the board. Read more here on how recalls function in Michigan.

The recall was appealed to the Michigan Court of Appeals on August 21, 2020. According to state recall rules, if a recall is appealed to the court of appeals, the petition is valid 180 days after either the court renders a decision or 40 days after the date of appeal whichever comes sooner. This made the signatures due by March 29, 2021. The required signatures were not submitted to recall Gilchrist.

Gilchrist ran as the running mate of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) in the 2018 election. Whitmer was elected as Michigan's governor in 2018 with 53.3% of the vote.

Recall supporters

First recall effort (submitted by Chad Baase; ended)

The first recall petition was filed by Chad Baase on July 28, 2020. The petition was considered on August 11, 2020, by the Michigan Board of State Canvassers. The board approved the petition by a 3-0 vote. In an interview with MLive in December 2020, Baase said he did not intend to collect signatures to recall Gilchrist. The petition listed the following reasons for recall:

“	FOR SIGNING HOUSE BILL 4044 INTO LAW ON NOVEMBER 21, 2019 WHILE GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER WAS IN ISRAEL.	”
—Garlin Gilchrist Recall Petition Language

Second recall effort (submitted by James Makowski; rejected)

The second recall petition was filed by James Makowski on August 20, 2020. The petition was considered on September 2, 2020, by the Michigan Board of State Canvassers. The board rejected the petition by a 4-0 vote. The petition listed the following reasons for recall:

“	Garlan Gilchrist II (D) is the Lieutenant Governor of Michigan	”
—Garlin Gilchrist Recall Petition Language

Third and fourth recall efforts (submitted by David Blair; petitions rejected)

The recall petitions were filed by David Blair on July 7, 2021. The state Board of State Canvassers met on July 26, 2021, to hold a clarity and factual hearing to review the recall's petition language. The board did not approve the petitions for circulation. The petitions listed the following reasons for recall:

“

For having signed House Bill 4044 into law on NOVEMBER 21, 2019 while Governor Whitmer was in Israel.

”

Fifth and sixth recall efforts (submitted by David Blair; petitions rejected)

The recall petitions were filed by David Blair on July 7, 2021. The state Board of State Canvassers met on July 26, 2021, to hold a clarity and factual hearing to review the recall's petition language. The board did not approve the petitions for circulation. The petitions listed the following reasons for recall:

“

On at least one occasion regarding last year’s handling of COVID-19 by the state’s executive offices, Garlin Gilchrist II did not exhibit public favor or prioritize his oath to support the constitutions. Gilchrist’s negligence to influence and observe or carryout actions that were entirely aligned with upholding the constitutional rights of all state residents attributed to mass frustration coupled with avoidable harm to the state and its people. This lack of moral obligation and distorted sense of duty and/or gross incompetence brings to question his motives, loyalties, and ability to faithfully discharge the duties of this office.

”

Seventh and eighth recall efforts (submitted by David Blair; petitions rejected)

The recall petitions were filed by David Blair on July 7, 2021. The state Board of State Canvassers met on July 26, 2021, to hold a clarity and factual hearing to review the recall's petition language. The board did not approve the petitions for circulation. The petitions listed the following reasons for recall:

“

During a time when our country really needed hope, unity and non-partisan cooperation across the board, Gilchrist II chose to take a less mature approach. In an already negative atmosphere, he used his elected position to take a politically charged and blame filled jab at President Trump. During a virtual event for progressive voters called “Fighting for Justice in Michigan”, Lt. Gov. Gilchrist II said; “Donald Trump is a liar who has killed people, straight up.” After mentioning he knew nearly two dozen people who had died amid the pandemic, Gilchrist stated, “We cannot afford another four years of this man at the helm.” Fueling even more emotion provoking drama to this political maneuver, the lieutenant governor added; “There are literally millions of lives at stake” revealing an alternate agenda.

”

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing recall in Michigan

Recall process

Recall is a process whereby an elected official can be removed from office prior to the end of his or her term. All elected officials in Michigan are subject to recall except judges of courts of record. The process for recalling a state official in Michigan is outlined below:

• A recall petition must first be filed with the Board of State Canvassers. The board holds a hearing to determine whether the reason for the petition is factual and clear; that is the only criteria considered by the board to approve or reject the petition. Click here to learn more about these hearings.
• Once approved by the board, the petitioner must amass a number of signatures equal to 25 percent of the number of votes cast in the last general election in the electoral district of the officer sought to be recalled. The petitioner has 60 days to collect these signatures beginning on the date the first signature is collected; however, the petition must be submitted to the Michigan Secretary of State no later than 180 days after it was approved by the board.
• If an approved petition is appealed to the state Court of Appeals, then "the recall petition cannot be circulated until the Court of Appeals renders a decision or until 40 days following the date of appeal, whichever is sooner."
• The Secretary of State then has 35 days to determine the validity of the signatures on the petition by verifying the voter registration status of those who signed. If the petition is approved, a special recall election will be scheduled on the next general election date wherein other candidates may challenge the incumbent for the governor's seat.
• If an election is forced, the incumbent may submit a justification statement for the conduct that triggered the recall which is printed on the special election ballot for voters to consider.

Clarity and factual hearing

A clarity and factual hearing is the first step in the recall process. Michigan laws state that the reason for petition must be deemed factual and clear by the Board of State Canvassers before the recall petition can be placed in circulation. The board does not document a rationale for their determination, only the judgment of rejected or approved.

The board also does not have the authority to make a determination on the legitimacy of the reason for recall, nor do Michigan laws explicitly state the criteria for judging a petition as factual and clear. This means that any reason for the recall can be placed on a petition and approved for circulation, so long as the reason is clearly stated and does not contain falsehoods.

Election history

2018

See also: Michigan gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Gretchen Whitmer (D) announced on August 20, 2018, that she had selected Gilchrist as her running mate.

General election

General election for Governor of Michigan

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Michigan on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Gretchen Whitmer (D)	53.3	2,266,193
		Bill Schuette (R)	43.7	1,859,534
		Bill Gelineau (L)	1.3	56,606
		Todd Schleiger (U.S. Taxpayers Party)	0.7	29,219
		Jennifer Kurland (G)	0.7	28,799
		Keith Butkovich (Natural Law Party)	0.2	10,202
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	32

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,250,585 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Richard Sills (Independent)
• Ryan Henry Cox (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan

Gretchen Whitmer defeated Abdul El-Sayed and Shri Thanedar in the Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Gretchen Whitmer	52.0	588,436
		Abdul El-Sayed	30.2	342,179
		Shri Thanedar	17.7	200,645

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,131,260
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Kentiel White (D)
• Bill Cobbs (D)
• Justin Giroux (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Michigan

Bill Schuette defeated Brian Calley, Patrick Colbeck, and Jim Hines in the Republican primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bill Schuette	50.7	501,959
		Brian Calley	25.2	249,185
		Patrick Colbeck	13.1	129,646
		Jim Hines	11.0	108,735

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 989,525
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Evan Space (R)

Green primary election

Green primary for Governor of Michigan

Jennifer Kurland advanced from the Green primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Jennifer Kurland

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Dwain Reynolds (G)

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for Governor of Michigan

Bill Gelineau defeated John Tatar in the Libertarian primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bill Gelineau	57.8	4,034
	Submit photo	John Tatar	42.2	2,941

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,975
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

See also

• Recall campaigns in Michigan
• Political recall efforts, 2020
• Political recall efforts, 2021

External links

Suggest a link

• Office of Lieutenant Governor - Garlin Gilchrist