An effort to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom gained the validation of 1.2 million of the 2 million signatures in the early review by election officials. The large number of early validated signatures means the required 1.5 million valid signatures to recall the governor will likely be met.
If the recall “qualifies” with the 1.5 million signatures, the special election would likely happen this year. This would mark only the second time out of 55 tries that a successful number of signatures were met to recall a California governor.
Gavin Newsom looked steady in the early days of the pandemic. He didn’t bash President Trump; rather he praised the president for his leadership and swift action. The Democrat machine quickly got Gov. Newsom back in line.
This resulted in California businesses closed, kids learning from zoom, and politicians not living by their own rules. It wasn’t until Newsom’s infamous dinner at the exclusive French Laundry restaurant without a mask and with a party made up of individuals that do not all live in the same home that Newsom really got in trouble.
But of course, because it is California, the recall won’t be as straightforward as one would think. The LA Times reports that “with flexible timelines and unusual rules, the coming months could be some of the most raucous political times in recent memory.” The ballot itself will be straightforward. It will ask whether Gavin Newsom should be recalled and, if so, which of the candidates running should take his position.
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But that is where the simplicity ends.
The rules for a California recall allow voters to strike their name from the petition within 30 business days of the recall being qualified according to the report. If enough signatures are struck from the petition, the recall effort will fail before the ballot process began.
The field will likely be flooded the report indicated. Recall candidates for California governor have 24 hour to file their paperwork for a legal spot on the ballot. For example, the LA Times reports, “In the 2003 recall of [Gov. Gray] Davis, won by Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, the ballot featured an only-in-California list of 135 hopefuls including pop culture celebrities, ordinary citizens, politicians and pundits.”
Gavin Newsom will not legally be allowed to run as a “replacement” for his position. The report states, “In a gubernatorial recall, replacement candidates would have to file their paperwork – along with a fee of almost $4,200 or in lieu of a fee, submit at least 7,000 voter signatures – no later than 59 days before election day.”
This means the state of California could hold an election for a new governor as soon as 60 days after the Secretary of State certifies the measure. That would only give potential candidates 24 hours to decide. The Lt. Governor of California must schedule the election within 60 to 80 days of the qualified recall.
The Democrats have the advantage with Gov. Newsom signing legislation in February that required the Secretary of State to send more than 22 million ballots – one to every registered voter – as a part of their “Covid response.” Newsom is toast. It isn’t likely that he survives the recall initiative. However, with the long list of terrible possibilities lining up behind him to take his place; California should buckle up.
Twitter: @marmee_r
ARTICLE SOURCE : thefederalistpapers.org
