SHREVEPORT, La. — Organizers seeking to recall Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill say they have collected thousands of signatures as they work toward the roughly 500,000 verified signatures required to trigger a recall election.
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The petitions were filed last month by Baton Rouge residents Marian Gbaiwon Hills and Kaitlyn Stepter. Through Louisiana Deserves Better, organizers have hosted signing events across the state, including in Caddo Parish.
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Trey Williams, deputy secretary of state for communications and policy, said Louisiana has never recalled a statewide elected official under the current process.
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"There has never been a recall of a statewide elected official in Louisiana since 1966," Williams said.
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Caddo Parish organizer Regan Bashara said the campaign has seen strong support locally.
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"I would estimate that we have several thousand signatures collected just in the month of May alone," Bashara said. "I think a lot of politicians have really woken up to the fact that the people do have power."
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Opponents of the effort argue recalls should be reserved for misconduct, not political disagreements. Louis Avallone, a member of the Caddo Parish Republican Executive Committee, called the campaign "political theater."
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"Recalls were meant for elected officials who were derelict in their duty," Avallone said. "Recalls are not intended for political disagreements. Right now, I think the governor is doing everything he can to move this state forward. The Louisiana Legislature just ended its session, and it's full of good news for Louisiana citizens."
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Meanwhile, the Republican Party of Louisiana has launched a social media campaign called "Do You Recall," highlighting what party leaders describe as Landry's accomplishments in office and urging voters to oppose the recall effort.
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Organizers have until November to collect enough signatures to place the recalls before Louisiana voters.
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