Do You Remember the Last Recall Election in the Once Golden State?
Hope springs eternal in some disaffected portions of California.
A new coalition has been formed called Saving California and its goal is to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif.
This latest recall will come as no surprise to the incompetent but photogenic Newsom.
We’ll let KTLA explain, "This will be the eighth attempt to recall Newsom since he was elected. Only one attempt, however, made it onto the statewide ballot — the initiative brought in 2021 as a response to his adoption of aggressive public health safety measures at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic."
That works out to a little over one recall attempt per year that Newsom had been in the governor’s office. Obviously the previous seven recall attempts failed, otherwise Newsom wouldn’t be the target of this one.
To make it on the ballot, a recall petition needs valid signatures equal to 12% of the total vote in the last governor’s election.
That’s why only one of the seven previous attempts was successful.
California recalls are particularly difficult because the election is a two-step affair.
First voters have to decide if they want the politician recalled, then — on the same ballot — voters must choose who they want to replace the incumbent.
This means a California recall is essentially two campaigns in one.
First the recall campaign then the campaign for the candidate to fill the office if the incumbent is recalled.
In 2021 this worked to Newsom’s advantage.
"Newsom easily beat back the recall in 2021 after framing the contest with his opponent and apparent successor should he have been ousted, conservative talk-show host Larry Elder, as part of the larger national ballot for progressive values and continued threats of 'Trumpism.'"
The current recall has no doubt gained some momentum due to the fires currently ravaging the state and Newsom’s failed wilderness fire prevention policies.
It seems that those on the left politically only support laissez-faire concepts when it comes to preventing the buildup of brush and dead trees in forests.
Frankly, we are skeptical of this recall.
This effort looks to us like a jobs program for the organizers as they raise money to fund their recall and, we presume, their salaries.
The big obstacle to Newsom remaining in office is not political unrest created by his many failures or this eighth recall petition effort. Newsom’s big enemy is Father Time.
Newsom is term limited. He will be out of office at the end of 2026. In the unlikely event this recall is successful it will only spare Californians a single year of Newsom's misrule.
We think the organizer’s time and money would be better spent recruiting a conservative candidate to run in the 2026 governor’s race.
Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President Ronald Reagan, is a Newsmax TV analyst. A syndicated columnist and author, he chairs The Reagan Legacy Foundation. Mr. Reagan is an in-demand speaker with Premiere Speaker's Bureau. Read Michael Reagan's Reports — More Here.
Michael R. Shannon is a commentator, researcher for the League of American Voters, and an award-winning political and advertising consultant with nationwide and international experience. He is author of "Conservative Christian's Guidebook for Living in Secular Times (Now With Added Humor!)" Read Michael Shannon's Reports — More Here.