Holperin, Hansen petitions could be filed

Recall petitions against two Democratic state senators representing parts of Northeast Wisconsin could be filed Thursday.

A group working to recall State Sen. Jim Holperin, D-Conover, says it will file recall petitions Thursday in Madison. The group claims to have more than 21,000 signatures, exceeding the 15,960 required to force a recall election.

A group working to recall State Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, has also told FOX 11 it has enough signatures to force a recall election. More than 13,000 are needed in Hansen’s district. The group has said Winter Storm Gabe delayed its trip to Madison, but it plans to make the trip Thursday as well.

Recall petitions must be filed with the state Government Accountability Board at its offices near the state Capitol. The GAB then works to confirm and certify the signatures, and if there are enough, a recall election is set.

Holperin and Hansen would be the first Democrats to have recall petitions filed against them. Petitions have already been filed against Republican Sens. Dan Kapanke of La Crosse, Randy Hopper of Fond du Lac, Luther Olsen of Ripon and Sheila Harsdorf of River Falls. The GAB has not finished certifying any of those petitions.

All 16 state senators eligible for recall have active campaigns against them over their actions in the debate over Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill, which severely curtailed collective bargaining rights for most state employees. Those working to recall Republicans are upset over their votes in favor of the bill, which was signed into law but has not been fully implemented because of legal challenges. Those working to recall Democrats are upset because the senators fled to Illinois for several days to stall a vote on the bill.

• Click here to learn more about Wisconsin recall rules