Will voters recall Pamela Price as Alameda County District Attorney?

Pamela Price surprised Alameda County’s criminal justice system in 2022 by winning the district attorney election after running on a platform emphasizing reform, racial justice and greater accountability for law enforcement. Credit: Estefany Gonzalez

For the first time in Alameda County history, voters will decide in November whether to remove their district attorney from office.

Voting Basics: How to register, where and when to vote, what’s on the ballot and other important information.

All our coverage: Meet the candidates running for mayor, city council, rent board, school board and more. And learn about local ballot measures and Pamela Price’s recall.

Former civil rights lawyer Pamela Price took office as Alameda County District Attorney in January 2023 after winning 53 percent of the vote, promising to reform the county’s criminal justice system.

Price reform platform included not sentencing young people as adults, relying less on incarceration and holding police accountable. After taking office, she kept her promises. For example, she enacted policies against using enhancements to extend defendants’ prison terms and directed prosecutors to offer defendants probation whenever possible instead of prison time.

This did not sit well with anti-crime activists.

Supporters of the recall blamed the recent spike in crime on Price’s philosophy as a prosecutor. Critics accused her of being too lenient more high profile cases. And Price drew fire for investigation and prosecution of police officers and prison guards accused of murder, assault and other crimes.

By July 2023, Price’s critics had took the first steps for a recall. In October 2023, officially launch the recall campaign.

After enough signatures were gathered to force a recall vote, the county Board of Supervisors placed the issue on the general election ballot as a less expensive means compared to a special election.

According to the 2023 Alameda County Prosecutor’s Office annual reportPrice took action in 62.9 percent of the cases referred to his office by law enforcement, the report found — a similar amount to last year under Price’s predecessor, Nancy O’Malley.

If the recall fails, Price can serve out the remainder of his term, which ends in 2028.

If the recall passes, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors will appoint an interim district attorney to serve until the next regularly scheduled election in 2026.

Whoever is elected in 2026 will serve out Price’s term, which ends in 2028.

The CREDENTIALS requirements for the position include a Juris Doctor degree from a recognized law school, admission to the state bar in the jurisdiction of the job, and a minimum of five years of experience in the practice of law, preferably in criminal prosecution.

Price “will not be removed immediately,” said David McCuan, a political science professor at Sonoma State University, but there would be pressure on supervisors to replace her quickly.

“If you’re looking at recalling Chesa Boudin in 2022, you’re talking about a matter of weeks, usually weeks,” McCuan said.