Efforts to recall governor Newsom intensify

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) is in danger of losing his job. More residents are signing a petition to recall Governor Newsom and remove him from office.

What began as a conservative pipe dream has blossomed into something achievable, says a spokesperson for the California Patriot Coalition.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the progress…It’s been largely because of Gavin Newsom himself and his daily failures in how to manage or in his case mismanage the pandemic.”

Newsom is under fire for a strict approach to the pandemic that hasn’t seemed to produce a decrease in cases. Schools and businesses have remained shuttered for months longer in California than in other states. Residents remain at the mercy of a complex tier system. It assigns specific restrictions to each region based on case numbers. 

In late January, Newsom abruptly canceled a widespread stay-at-home order and curfew. He claimed the state was experiencing a “flattening of the curve.”

However, critics said he was just trying to save his job. 

To date, California is the only state to report more than 3 million COVID-19 infections. Its death toll, which has reached nearly 44,000, is second only to New York. As of January 26th, more than 500 people were dying per day. Also, there wasn’t a single ICU available in all of Socal. 

In addition to his pandemic response, proponents of the recall effort have criticized Newsom for his failure to address homelessness and his support for sanctuary city policies and water rationing.

Teachers are upset with Newsom over the ongoing school closures. Young Democrats are also angry about his decision to side with Uber against the prerogatives of gig workers.

Additionally, black women are furious that Newsom failed to replace outgoing California Senator Kamala Harris (D) with a black female. Without her, there are no black women in the senate. “Newsom and the Party better hope that black women don’t decide to teach them both a lesson and either sign on to the recall or sit it out should it make it to the ballot,” argues Jasmine Cannick, a political strategist based in LA.

Newsom’s opponents have collected $2.5 million so far, including a $500,000 donation from John Kruger – an entrepreneur and education reform advocate who is upset with Newsom over his restrictions on religious gatherings during the pandemic. 

To get the recall question on the ballot, supporters will need to collect 1.5 million signatures by March 17th. So far, they have roughly 1.1 million.

If the effort to recall Newsom succeeds and California holds a gubernatorial election, it is expected to become the largest political event of the year. Potential candidates include: former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer (R), 2018 gubernatorial candidate John Cox (R), former state Senator John Moorlach (R), and venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya (D).

Newsom has repeatedly deflected questions about the recall effort by framing proponents as extremist Trump Supporters.

“I do think at some point he needs to open a recall committee, start taking this shit seriously, and start going to war,” warns Democratic consultant Andrew Acosta. 

Standing up for Newsom is the National Union of Healthcare Workers, which argues that hospital workers will be in danger if the recall effort goes through.

“We can’t risk opening the door to some new administration that would be far less prepared to get people vaccinated and far less committed to protecting healthcare,” said a spokesperson.

Recent polls show Newsom’s approval rating hovering around 50% (down from 64% in May 2020). According to the Berkeley Institute of Government Studies, roughly 36% of registered Democrats support his removal.

Sources:

His polls are sinking. Democrats are mobilizing. The Newsom recall just got real. 

California reverses stay-at-home order as conditions improve 

Is California going to recall *another* governor? 

Governor Newsom recall backers report raising more than $2.5 million 

Gavin Newsom recall, Governor of California (2019-2021)