The state of the Newsom recall

The Republican Party is making a habit of trying to overturn democratic elections, and worse, doing so as a matter of egregious mischief-making, in order to keep the Trump base riled up. Naturally, they want to attack liberal California’s liberal governor, and the campaign to recall Governor Newsom is a result.

The campaign has now collected 1.5 million signatures, enough to put the measure on the November ballot. Verification of these signatures has begun, with organizers planning to collect 300,000 to 400,000 more signatures by the March 17 deadline to qualify as a ballot measure.

Recall Newsom 2020 and its ancillary organization Rescue California have raised upwards of $3.5 million to fund the petition drive. As Fox News gleefully reports on the recall effort, the Republican National Committee has just decided to invest $250,000 in the campaign. A number of big Trump donors from across the nation have already contributed, and more are waiting in the wings to support the measure once it is on the ballot. Republicans are capitalizing on voters’ frustration with COVID-19 restrictions, especially the closing of schools and businesses, to launch this spurious effort. The cost to the state from the recall effort has been estimated at $81 million.

Despite the fact that although they can put the measure on the ballot, its chance of success is slim to none. Once the measure is on the ballot, voters will be asked to decide whether to recall Newsom and which of the candidates running to replace him is their choice instead.

Democrats are mobilizing to resist the recall measure, with the National Union of Healthcare Workers already engaged in an effort to dissuade people from signing the petition.

Recall efforts, like impeachment, should be reserved for extreme cases of dereliction of duty. Regardless of whether we support Newsom ourselves, we should oppose this recall measure as yet another far-right attempt to undermine the democratic process.

National Republicans Dive into Recall Push, Politico

Campaign to Oust Newsom Unavoidable, Politico

Big Trump donors converge on recall, Politico

There may be enough Newsom opposition to get a recall on the ballot. But not enough to boot him from office, George Skelton column in LA Times

Recall Newsom campaign says they have enough signatures, NBC San Diego