Recall election candidates submitted their nomination signatures to the Government Accountability Board for verification Tuesday.
Candidates had to submit a minimum of 2,000 signatures and no more than 4,000 signatures by 5 p.m. Tuesday in order to qualify for a spot on the ballot in the recall elections of Gov. Scott Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. Only 500 signatures are required of candidates for the four state Senate recall elections.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett submitted the maximum 4,000 signatures, though his campaign collected over 7,000, more than any other candidate.
A spokesperson for Barrett’s campaign said it was “a real testament to the incredible enthusiasm and support for his campaign” and that people are “keying in on his message about ending Scott Walker’s ideological civil war that is tearing our state apart.”
Former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk was the first of the Democrat gubernatorial candidates to deliver her signatures. Her nomination signatures totaled 4,000, twice the minimum number of signatures required to get on the ballot.
“Gov. Walker violated the values of Wisconsin and he wasn’t honest with us about his agenda,” said Falk in a statement. “Today is the next step towards removing him from office. As governor, I will bring us together and restore transparency, accountability and honesty to the governor’s office.”
State Senator Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, submitted 3,300 signatures in a box labeled as “the hopes and dreams of the people of Wisconsin for a fresh start in Wisconsin government and politics.”
Secretary of State Doug LaFollette submitted 3,300 signatures. In a statement Tuesday, LaFollette said he was pleased with the number of signatures his campaign was able to collect, and addressed his goals as a candidate.
“My goal is to bring us back together, after these divisive times, by listening to and working with all segments of our state, to restore civility and move Wisconsin forward,” said LaFollette.
The GAB must now verify the signatures of the 35 submissions for potential recall candidates: 15 for governor, six for lieutenant governor, and 14 total for the state senate seats.
Primary elections slated for May 8 will be followed by the June 5 general election.
Protester to challenge Walker
With his progressive “La Follete Republican” platform and “passing resemblance” to a young Abraham Lincoln, Madison native Arthur Kohl-Riggs submitted his signatures for verification Tuesday in hopes of securing a spot on recall election ballots to challenge fellow Republican Gov. Scott Walker.
“Wisconsin has a strong history of progressive Republicanism,” Kohl-Riggs said. “Even by traditional Republican values, Walker’s policies are radical and extreme and they don’t represent the values of the party of Abraham Lincoln and Robert La Follette.”
Kohl-Riggs is one of the 14 potential candidates hoping for inclusion on recall ballots to unseat Walker in the recall election.
The 23 year old said he can’t compete with Walker’s fundraising, but hopes to “rely on the ‘share’ button and tweeting” to help his campaign.
If included on the ballot, Kohl-Riggs plans to scold Walker for “being a bad Republican” while dressed up as the 16th president “at least twice,” he said.
