Sponsor of Arizona Immigration Law Faces Recall

PHOENIX — The sponsor of Arizona's controversial immigration law faces a recall election after opponents collected more than 10,000 voter signatures.

County Elections Director Karen Osborne says her office is certifying that the petitions have 10,365 valid signatures of voters from the Mesa Republican's legislative district.

They needed 7,756 signatures to force a recall election.

The secretary of state now must make its own verification. It would be up to Gov. Jan Brewer to formally call for the election.

Pearce is best known for sponsoring immigration measures including the 2010 enforcement law known as SB1070. A judge has placed key provisions of that measure on hold while they're challenged in court.