LANSING, Mich. – An appellate court has ruled several petitions that aim to recall Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II can move forward if the people behind them choose to do so.
The board of canvassers initially approved seven such petitions, one of which was abandoned.
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The recall petitions involve the governor’s use of emergency powers and mandates during the pandemic. It remains to be seen whether any of them will be pursued.
In a series of rulings, the Michigan Court of Appeals said the Board Of State Canvassers was right to approve certain petitions to recall Whitmer or Gilchrist after the governor appeals those approvals.
Nearly all the recall petitions were focused on the governor’s pandemic orders except one, which dealt with her travel to Israel in 2019.
The petitions do have a high bar to clear to get recalls approved. According to state law, the recall petitions would need more than one million signatures in 60 days.
In order for the petitions to go on the August ballot, they would have had to meet the deadline in April. It is unclear if they could end up on the November ballot, which is meant for local elections this year. That deadline is July 30.
“We plan to appeal this disappointing decision and we fully intend to beat back these irresponsible partisan attacks against the Governor in the courts, on the streets or at the ballot. This is part of a massive and coordinated attack by Republicans trying to make the Governor fail and our campaign will strenuously oppose these efforts so the Governor can keep saving lives, reopening our economy and creating jobs.”
Mark Fisk, Gov. Whitmer campaign spokesperson
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