Governor Newsom recall election date set for September 14
SALINAS, Calif. (KION) A date is set for an historic recall election in California.
Governor Gavin Newsom could be booted out of office if enough voters say they want new leadership on September 14th, and there is no shortage of people wanting to take his place in the governor's office.
California has only recalled a governor once, back in 2003 with Democratic Governor Gray Davis. Back then, movie super star and Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger took the reins of the governor's office.
Governor Newsom's allies made sure the election happened sooner rather than later.
"Less chance of some unforeseen occurrence hurting Governor Newsom, that is change in COVID or wildfire, something that.. just sooner they get it done, the better, is their view," said Dr. David Anderson, a Monterey political analyst.
Voters will be asked two questions on the ballot: first, should Newsom be recalled? Second, who then should be governor?
The second questions only applies if a majority of voters say yes to recall, which is very much up in the air if you look at the polls.
"Governor's ratings are in the upper 50s, approaching 60 percent among all voters. Of course, among Democrats, he has a real high rating," said Dr. Anderson.
That is not stopping challengers like Republican businessman John Cox from vying for the state's top seat.
While the recall effort is drawn along party lines between state Republicans and Democrats, Dr. Anderson says the GOP strategy is to make this about the governor's performance, not political affiliation.
"The recovery from the pandemic is underway, and the state's opening up, pretty much open now. It's going to be a very difficult sell for the Republicans to say 'bad government.' But that's going to be their argument," said Dr. Anderson.
Ballots could be sent out in the mail as soon as a matter of weeks, according to Governor Newsom's campaign.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — California on Thursday scheduled a Sept. 14 recall election that threatens to drive Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom from office, the result of a political uprising driven by widespread angst over coronavirus orders that shuttered schools and businesses.
The election in the nation’s most populous state will be a marquee contest with national implications, watched closely as a barometer of the public mood heading toward the 2022 elections, when a closely divided Congress again will be in play.
The date was set by the state’s lieutenant governor after election officials certified that enough valid petition signatures had been turned in to qualify the election for the ballot.
Many voters have yet to pay attention to the emerging election, while polls have shown Newsom would beat back the effort to remove him. Republicans haven’t won a statewide race in heavily Democratic California since 2006.
Republican candidates have depicted Newsom as an incompetent fop, while Democrats have sought to frame the recall as driven by far-right extremists and supporters of former President Donald Trump.
Governor Newsom responded to the news saying, in part, "I am not going to be distracted from the work we’re doing to move California forward. We’re opening our state, we’re getting checks to people’s homes, vaccinations in arms, our kids back to school, and we won’t stop now."
Kevin Faulconer, one of the republican candidates in the recall election, released a statement saying the election is being powered by Californians from "every community."
Faulconer adds, "I am ready to lead this recall and begin the California Comeback to clean up our streets, cut taxes on the middle class, and reopen our schools. Change is coming for California and retirement is coming for Gavin Newsom.
