Amid Recall Rule Confusion, Alameda DA Pamela Price's 'Protect the Win' Campaign Braces for Tough Fight

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price launched “Protect the Win,” her campaign against an anticipated recall, on Thursday in downtown Oakland, as the progressive DA and her supporters prepare to face well-funded and determined recall proponents.

There was a crowd of about 70 people, and it felt like a holiday party in the low-lit event space. Attendees with colorful name tags milled around the venue, striking up conversations and eating slices of pizza. The warm mood belied the fact that many in attendance believe a major progressive win in the county is facing a grave threat.

“We find ourselves at a critical juncture in our community’s history, facing a decision that can shape the future of our criminal justice system and the impact on our communities,” said supporter Saabir Lockett, who spent 21 years in prison and is now deputy director of civic engagement and faith-rooted organizing at the East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy.

The recall of Price has yet to qualify for the ballot. Last week, recall proponents Save Alameda for Everyone: Recall DA Price — or SAFE — reported that they are well on the way to collecting the required number of signatures for the recall to be certified by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.

While a recall election seems increasingly likely, the date voters would cast their ballots remains a point of contention.

SAFE, which has criticized Price’s progressive policies like not charging minors as adults, wants the recall election to be held in June, which would be in accordance with county recall rules. But the registrar of voters sought to amend the county’s recall laws in favor of state rules, saying the current rules are outdated and infeasible. The county has good reason to be looking closely at its processes after errors in last year’s election brought voter confidence in the office to a new low.

The difference between the state and county rules on recalls is key because each set of rules has distinct timelines. Special and primary elections tend to have lower voter turnout than general elections, especially during a presidential election year. State rules favor holding the recall in November.

State rules would give the registrar more time to count and verify signatures. It would also raise the number of signatures required by about 20,000. On Tuesday, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, in a contentious 3–2 vote, put the decision in the hands of voters.

The supervisors agreed the rules need to be updated, but differed on whether the changes should happen with a recall pending.

“To me, it seems like it’s interfering with elections,” said Board President Nate Miley, who voted against sending the item to voters.

The issue goes back to the board for a second reading on Nov. 28. If approved, voters will decide on March 5 whether the county will adopt the state’s rules which experts say would favor Price.

Even if voters favor the change, it’s unclear whether the new rules would apply to a Price recall. The deadline for SAFE to submit their signatures is the same day as the vote on recall rules. SAFE has said it plans to submit signatures before the deadline. It would likely take a few days for the Secretary of State to certify the results of the March 5 election, meaning the rules might change after a signature count is underway. The confusion has led to threats of lawsuits from both sides of the recall.

“I don’t know that this won’t be resolved outside of a court of law,” David Haubert, the board’s vice president.

At the Protect the Win launch, Price seemed a bit tired — and unfazed by a potential recall.

“I am doing nothing more, nothing less than implementing the will of the voters of Alameda County,” she said. “I will continue to do my job.”

Soon after her win last November, Price told KQED she thought a recall was inevitable. “I don’t know that there is a way to chart a progressive course without incurring a recall,” she said.

In a conversation with KQED last week, she struck an optimistic tone.

“I have confidence in the people of Alameda County,” she said. “This is not San Francisco. We are a diverse, dynamic community that listens. We’re educated. People pay attention.”

Price appears to be banking on voters that have turned out for progressive issues in the past. That might happen but, at least for the moment, Price’s campaign trails the recall in a number of metrics. According to campaign finance filing as of Nov. 15, Price is being financially outpaced by recall supporters. For every $15 raised by Protect the Win, SAFE has brought in around $700.

At Protect the Win’s launch, people handed out “decline to sign” window signage, and coached attendees on how to talk with their friends and neighbors about their support for Price. Speakers emphasized that what the campaign lacks in funds it will make up in people power. The numbers aren’t promising there, either. Protect the Win estimates it has 65 registered volunteers. On Friday, Grisham told KQED that SAFE has 3,100.

On the stage, Stanley Cox, an Oakland rapper and entrepreneur known as Mistah F.A.B., made a call to action.

“A lot of us are just sitting back watching. You got a lot of watchers,” he said. “What we need now are the doers. We need the workers.”