Los Angeles Council President Harris-Dawson Faces Recall Petition: City Clerk Approved Circulation October 28, 21,569 Valid Signatures Required

The Los Angeles City Clerk announced that a petition to recall Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson was underway on Thursday, October 29. The City Clerk approved the draft petition for circulation on October 28; Harris-Dawson represents the Eighth Council District and serves as Council President.

The threshold and the timetable

Proponents must gather 21,569 valid signatures from registered voters residing in the Eighth Council District, equal to 15% of the district's registered voters (143,788 registered voters as of October 5, 2026, per the City Clerk's signature requirements document). The petition must be filed with the City Clerk by February 25, 2027. The Clerk's petition status table shows the notice of intention to recall was served on the official on September 30, published on October 11, and approved for circulation on October 28.

What happens if it qualifies

If proponents submit enough valid signatures within the deadline, the City Clerk will verify them and, if sufficient, certify the petition to the City Council, which then handles whether a recall election is held. Under the City Charter, recalling a Council member requires signatures equal to at least 15% of the district's registered voters, and only signatures from voters residing in the district count. The Clerk's status table does not state the proponents' stated reasons for the recall; whether the effort qualifies will depend on gathering enough valid signatures over the next four months.