California Governor Gavin Newsom Recall

Recently, the effort to recall California governor Gavin Newsom surpassed the number of votes necessary to qualify for a special election. 

The Republican-led initiative, filed in February 2020 by Orrin E. Heatlie (a former police sergeant), started as a general critique of Newsom’s gubernatorial abilities. According to a petition sign, supporters are advocating for “No More: Water Tax, FREE Illegal Immigrant Health Care, Sanctuary State, Overruling Popular Votes, Reducing Police Support, Gun Control, Highest Gas Tax, Government Overreach,  High Income Tax, Threatening Prop 13, Ammo Regulations, [and] Challenging 2nd Amendment Rights.” Here is an extensive list of all the reasons the RecallGavin2020 campaign believes he should be recalled.

After the COVID-19 pandemic started, many California residents criticized his restrictions, including prohibiting businesses and schools to reopen, and the violation of his own mandate, when he was caught maskless at a birthday party at French Laundry in Napa. As Newsom’s approval rating began to descend, the recall effort gained traction and signatures. 

California’s only requirement to recall a governor is that 12% of the total number of voters in the previous election must sign the petition to recall, and the signatures need to span over five counties. On March 10th, the RecallGavin2020 website reported that they reached over two million signatures, which would qualify for a ballot ahead of a possible special election. 

The campaign needed to acquire at least one and a half million signatures (12% of votes in previous election) by March 17th, and officials have until April 29th to verify them and determine if a special election will be held. 

While this is the first recall effort for Newsom that could qualify for the ballot, he has already faced five previous efforts only two years into his first term. According to California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber, there have been 55 attempts to recall a governor, of which only one has qualified for the ballot and passed: the recall of Governor Gray Davis, who was replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

If the effort makes it to the ballot, it would ask voters if they want to recall the governor, and who should replace him. Two Republican candidates, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and businessman John Cox, announced they would run in a recall election against Newsom. 

In early February, White House press secretary Jen Psaki reported that President Biden opposed the recall effort, backing the governor. While Republicans attempting to recall Newsom argue that they’re trying to save California, many Democrats view this as an attempt for the GOP to gain control. 

In a recall election, if 50% of voters choose to recall the governor, the frontrunner on the replacement list will be sworn in. While Newsom has a chance to beat the effort in the majority-Democrat California, recall elections are unpredictable. Either way, California voters can possibly expect to cast their ballot in a special election later this year.