There is a recall effort for a state senator being targeted for his vote on collective bargaining. | AP Photo Wis. Dems to file first recall petition

Democrats in Wisconsin say they have enough signatures to file a petition to launch a recall effort against state Sen. Dan Kapanke, one of eight Republicans being targeted for his vote to restrict collective bargaining for most public sector works in the state.

Recall organizer Pat Scheller told the La Crosse Tribune that volunteers have collected more than the 15,588 signatures needed to trigger a recall and plan to file the petition in Madison on Friday.


Kapanke said early last month that he expected Democrats to push for his recall but was “willing to stand up and take that vote” in favor of the collective-bargaining bill, even if it meant having his seat challenged. He did not immediately respond to POLITICO’s request for comment.

“I love campaigns. I just didn’t think I’d do one every year,” he quipped last weekend.

Wisconsin Democrats offered infrastructure support but did not send “a single paid canvasser” to the district, state Democratic Party spokesman Graeme Zielinski told the Tribune. Volunteers collected more than 20,000 signatures in less than 30 days, he said.

The filing will start a 31-day period during which the state’s Government Accountability Board will examine the signatures. Kapanke can challenge the signatures during the first 10 days of that period, and Republicans, Democrats or the board itself can request more time to assess the filing.

Democrats have not indicated who they would run against Kapanke in a recall election.

This article tagged under: Wisconsin