Voters in parts of Mesa had one last day to cast their ballots in person in a historic recall election that aims to remove a sitting council member in favor of a political newcomer.
Constituents of Councilmember Julie Spilsbury’s District 2 in the central eastern part of the city, launched the recall effort in January. She faces newcomer Dorean Taylor, who seeks to take her seat.
Spilsbury faces the recall effort because of a trio of yes votes. Two of those votes took place prior to Spilsbury’s reelection in August, which she won with 65% of the vote in her district.
The Nov. 4 election is a mail-in ballot-only election. Voters who missed the Oct. 28 deadline to mail back a ballot can drop it off at three separate Mesa voting locations.
I need to drop off my ballot: Here’s where you can drop off your ballot in Arizona for the Nov. 4 election
Those include:
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Brimhall Aquatics Complex.
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Maricopa County Recorder/Elections offices.
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Red Mountain Mesa Community College.
Polls close at 7 p.m. Nov. 4. The first round of results is expected about 8 p.m. Check back for updates.
What Spilsbury’s recall means for Mesa
Spilsbury was first elected in 2020 and was easily reelected to her second term in the 2024 primary election.
Residents cited a trio of three votes for the recall: raising utility rates, approving the transition of a hotel into a homeless housing program and increasing council salaries.
The real crux of the outrage against Spilsbury was her endorsement of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the November presidential election. Spilsbury is a registered Republican.
The controversial recall in District 2 gained support from Turning Point USA, which held get-out-the-vote events throughout October and posted campaign signs across the district in support of Taylor.
The recall was widely seen as a litmus test for how much clout the national conservative group can wield in non-partisan local politics.
Taylor told The Arizona Republic in a written statement she was “extremely grateful for the overwhelming support I’ve received from my neighbors, the community, local business leaders, the local legislative district Republican parties, and Turning Point Action.”
Spilsbury has told The Republic that she was frustrated that she had to campaign again one year after she “won fair and square.”
What happens next?
If Spilsbury wins the recall election, she will retain her seat and finish out her term until 2029.
If Taylor wins the recall election, she would be sworn in and take her seat directly after the City Council adopts the canvassing resolution.
That was tentatively scheduled for Nov. 17, pending the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors’ canvassing of the results.
Reporter Maritza Dominguez covers Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek and can be reached at [email protected] or 480-271-0646. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @maritzacdom.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mesa voters to decide historic recall in 2025 election
