Alameda County Board Schedules Recall Vote for District Attorney in November with a Focus on Criminal Justice

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors has decided that the November general election will be when voters will have the opportunity to decide on whether Democratic District Attorney Pamela Price should be recalled. The board voted 3-0 during a meeting to set the recall vote for Nov. 5 instead of holding a special election. Supporters of Price wanted the vote to coincide with the general election to increase voter turnout and potentially save her from being ousted, while those in favor of the recall preferred a separate vote. The November election will also include other important races in Alameda County, such as presidential, Senate, and House elections. The cost of a separate special election was a factor in the decision to combine the recall vote with the general election. Crime has been a significant issue in Oakland and the rest of the county, leading to increased surveillance measures. Price, like other progressive district attorneys, has faced criticism for her approach to prosecuting cases. In other parts of California, there have been similar efforts to recall district attorneys, with San Francisco’s Chesa Boudin being recalled in June 2022 and Los Angeles County’s George Gascon facing opposition but not yet being recalled.