The petition to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has accrued 1.2 million signatures of valid California voters, according to the movement’s activists. This number is only 300,000 short of the goal.
The effort started after Californians grew frustrated over Newsom’s handling of the Coronavirus. The governor’s decision to shut down schools, restaurants, businesses and churches crippled Californians.
Newsom drew sharp criticism after photos surfaced of his attendance at an indoor dinner party held at the three-star California restaurant, the French Laundry. Several weeks later, the petition signatures grew to just under 500,000.
The movement has gained traction financially as well. The Wall Street Journal reports that the organizers have raised over $1.7 million.
The petition must garner 1.5 million signatures by March 10 in order for the recall to appear on the ballot.
Former San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer (R) told the Journal that Newsom’s decisions are “harming lives and livelihoods, people are at their wits’ end and they want to do something about it.”
Faulconer also revealed that he would run for governor if the recall election were to happen.
The governor’s December stay-at-home order was just lifted Monday returning the state to county-by-county decision making. When asked in a press conference if the decision was motivated by the threat of the recall election, Newsom replied, “complete utter nonsense.”
If the special recall election were to occur, Newsom would be the second governor in California history to face such an event.
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