Democrats could change ‘weaponized’ California recall system

By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Hours after California Gov. Gavin Newsom beat back a recall election that could have removed him, his fellow Democrats in the state Legislature said they will seek changes to make it more difficult to challenge a sitting governor. Newsom said Wednesday that the recall process has been “weaponized.” Possible changes include increasing the number of signatures needed to force a recall election and requiring wrongdoing on the part of the officeholder. But the efforts faced pushback from those who organized the recall election against Newsom and questions from experts about the political uncertainty of Democrats pushing changes that could anger voters.