Conservatives ousted from WA school board after facing recall for mask mandate defiance

Three conservatives have been ousted from a Washington State school board over a February 2022 decision to make face masks optional for students despite Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee's statewide mandate requiring them.

Members Kari Williams, Audra Byrd and Semi Bird – the last of whom is eyeing the governor's seat in 2024 – were recalled after an extended effort to shake up the board.

"The leader of the recall said, ‘We will fix the mistake that was the election,’" Semi Bird told Fox News Digital on Sunday.

"This was never about just a mask mandate," he said. "It was a combination of change and accountability that we brought forward that the progressives within our district did not like. With the support of the teachers union and other progressive advocacy groups, they brought tens of thousands of dollars to a school board recall during an off-year primary where we had our supporters come out in numbers and support us, but the masses of conservatives who are our voter base did not turn out."