[1][2] Karen Weaver, the first woman to serve as mayor of Flint, Michigan, took office in 2015 during the Flint water crisis, which remained a central issue in 2017.

[2][3][4] In August 2017 petitioners gathered sufficient signatures for a recall election.

[6] The recall election followed a controversy relating to Weaver's support for a waste collection contract with Rizzo Environmental Services, a company involved in a corruption scandal that led to criminal charges against 17 people.

[1] Weaver argued that the recall was motivated by racism and sexism.

[2][3] Her opponents criticized her for failing to work with the City Council and eroding public faith in government.