Recall effort for Colorado Springs state senator moving forward

Gov. Jared Polis isn’t the only Democrat in Colorado facing a recall campaign: new petitions were approved by the Secretary of State’s office Friday to recall two state senators, and one of them represents part of El Paso County.

State Sen. Pete Lee — who represents Senate District 11, which includes part of Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs — is facing a recall along with Brittany Pettersen of District 22. Pettersen’s district is in the Denver metroplex.

The petition to recall Lee was filed by Scott David Fisher and it needs 11,304 signatures to get on the November ballot.

According to documents filed with the Secretary of State’s office, the petitioners seek to recall Lee because “he sponsored legislation to create a paid family and medical leave program to be funded by a mandatory tax on businesses and employees, disingenuously referring to it as a ‘fee’ instead of a tax.”

That’s in reference to SB-188, which ultimately didn’t pass the legislature or get signed into law. Lee was a co-sponsor for that bill.

The document also outlines Lee’s support for the National Popular Vote compact, oil and gas reform, comprehensive sexual education, and the red flag bill as reasons for recalling him.

It’s the latest effort by state lawmakers to try and oust legislators who championed those bills that were denounced by conservative groups.

If 11,304 signatures are collected and verified by the Secretary of State’s Office, a question to recall Lee will be on the ballot in November. A recall petition for Gov. Polis needs more than 600,000 signatures to be submitted.

Lee was first elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2010, representing House District 18. He was elected to the state Senate in 2018.