Shaun Bowler, a professor of political science at the University of California, Riverside, told ThinkProgress that “there may be very specific cases here in California” of legislators avoiding tough votes after seeing other elected officials recalled, “because right wing groups have threatened GOP politicians with recall if they vote a particular way.” Bowler says it is impossible to be sure what effect they have on legislatures. But it’s not like recalls have redeeming features that make them worth the risk.