Actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to stay "neutral" in current Gov. Gavin Newsom's recall election and Caitlyn Jenner's bid for the seat.
"Governor is friends with both Newsom and Jenner and wants to stay neutral, and as the Chairman of the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy he is committed to advancing post-partisanship," a spokesperson for the former bodybuilder told Fox News.
But Schwarzenegger, who won the office in a 2003 recall vote, is offering Newsom a bit of advice, Politico reports.
"The only advice I have for him is that he's doing a good job now," the "Terminator" star said. "That he has improved his connection with the people, and that he should continue on being real — being himself, and to really always just think about the people — and not about the unions, not about the party, not about any of that — just the people. And to solve the problems. Solve the problems."
Schwarzenegger likened the recall to a "valve." People needed an outlet for their anger, he said, adding that the recall is "a way to let out their anger."
"So now, it’s up to him [Newsom] to say, 'Now wait a minute, OK, maybe I was slow at the wheel in the beginning, but I promise you, this is the kind of governor I will be.' And then he is going to go and now jump into more action," Schwarzenegger continued.
"There is progress that people have already experienced. Now it’s, can you really address the homeless? Can you really create equality in education? [On those issues, he must] sit down and they have to go and work on that, without listening to the special interests, and really represent the people in the best possible way."
The recall effort reached the required signature threshold of just under 1.5 million on Monday. Counties still have until April 29 to submit the remaining verified signatures. There will then be a 30-day period where people will be allowed to withdraw their signatures, according to KABC.
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Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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