Petition Filed to Recall Washington Governor Over Unfilled Election Oversight Panel Seats

Citizen-led effort aims to pressure Gov. Bob Ferguson to appoint members to the state's Public Disclosure Commission.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 6:46pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty government office or meeting room, with warm sunlight streaming in through the windows and deep shadows cast across the room, conveying a sense of stillness and neglect.The vacant seats on Washington's campaign finance oversight commission highlight the potential consequences of unfilled government positions.Olympia Today

A recall petition has been filed against Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, accusing the first-term Democrat of misfeasance and violating his oath of office by failing to fill two vacant seats on the state's Public Disclosure Commission within the legally required timeline. The petition, filed by attorney Conner Edwards, claims Ferguson's inaction could hamstring the commission's ability to oversee campaign finance laws ahead of the 2026 election season.

Why it matters

The Public Disclosure Commission is a key independent watchdog over state elections and campaign finance. With only three of its five seats filled, the commission lacks a quorum to take official actions like adopting rules, conducting hearings, and deciding cases. This could have a 'real detrimental effect on our elections in 2026,' according to the petition filer.

The details

The petition alleges that Ferguson violated his oath of office and committed misfeasance by failing to appoint new commissioners within the 30-day timeline prescribed by state law. One seat has been vacant for nearly all of Ferguson's term, which began in January 2025. With the commission unable to take official actions due to the lack of a quorum, staff and commissioners have expressed frustration at the governor's inaction.

  • One commission seat has been vacant for nearly all of Ferguson's term, which began in January 2025.
  • Commissioner Allen Hayward resigned in January 2025, followed by Commissioner Nancy Isserlis' departure in August 2025.
  • The petition was filed with the secretary of state's office on April 1, 2026, and Ferguson was served the next day.

The players

Bob Ferguson

The Democratic governor of Washington who is the subject of the recall petition.

Conner Edwards

An attorney known as a prodigious filer of campaign finance complaints, who filed the petition to recall Gov. Ferguson.

Public Disclosure Commission

The state's independent campaign finance watchdog agency, which is missing two of its five seats due to Ferguson's inaction.

J. Robert Leach

The chair of the Public Disclosure Commission.

Douglass North

A commissioner on the Public Disclosure Commission.

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What they’re saying

“If they have no ability to take official actions, that would be a real disaster. That would have a real detrimental effect on our elections in 2026.”

— Conner Edwards, Attorney and petition filer

“For over a year, we have been working hard to get someone appointed. We don't have any authority to tell the governor what to do. We don't have anything other than the power of asking for help.”

— J. Robert Leach, Chair, Public Disclosure Commission

“Frankly, we are just not getting a lot of traction. We hope that will change with the close of the legislative session.”

— Peter Frey Lavallee, Executive Director, Public Disclosure Commission

“But he had about seven months last year where there wasn't a legislative session going on, and yet still couldn't manage to find a basis to appoint anybody, and that is rather disappointing. Hopefully, he can do something in the next few months.”

— Douglass North, Commissioner, Public Disclosure Commission

What’s next

If the recall petition is deemed legally sufficient by a Thurston County Superior Court judge, supporters would need to collect upward of 965,000 signatures to get the recall measure before voters.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of independent election oversight bodies and the potential consequences when key positions are left unfilled, potentially undermining the integrity of the electoral process. It also raises questions about gubernatorial accountability and the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches.