The California Democratic Party is facing backlash after referring to the campaign to recall Governor Gavin Newsom as a “coup” almost a week after the violent pro-Trump uprising on the United States Capitol.
“This recall effort, which should really be called a California coup, is being led by right-wing conspiracy theorists, white nationalists, anti-xxxxxers in groups that encourage violence in our democratic institutions,” said Rusty Hicks, president of the California Party Democratic. “Today we are here to say enough, enough.”
Hicks and other Democratic leaders, described in a party press release as the “Defending against the California coup” coalition, held a Zoom event at noon with reporters in which they alleged links between supporters of the recall effort and those who passed the Capitol in January 6.
Hicks did not provide details or evidence to support the claims made during the press conference. A Newsom spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on the party who called the recall effort a coup.
It is common and fair to paint your opponents as extremists, said Rob Stutzman, a Republican political consultant who did not endorse the recall effort. But describing a legal repeal process as a coup at this point in history minimizes the attack in Washington, he said.
“It is always irresponsible to call a process prescribed by the Constitution and enact a coup,” he said. “It is more than reckless to characterize the recall as a coup when a literal coup is underway in the United States.”
Although activists started the recall effort months ago and supporters include some marginal elements and right-wing groups, the campaign has already been adopted by Republicans, like former San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer and the state governor.
Supporters of the effort are expected to collect nearly 2 million voter signatures by March 17 to qualify for the statewide special election. If successful, it will only be the second electoral recall against a governor in California history – the first leading to the dismissal of Governor Gray Davis in 2003.
“It’s too late to put this on some people when so many people responded to it,” said Anne Hyde Dunsmore, campaign manager and finance director for Rescue California, one of the organizations supporting the recall effort. She said the recall campaign brought together more than 1 million signatures that transcend the party’s lines. State officials report that more than 500,000 signatures have been sent.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Congressman David Chiu (D-San Francisco), Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, San Diego County Supervisory Board Chair Nathan Fletcher, Bay Area Rapid Board Member Transit Lateefah Simon and Fresno councilman Nelson Esparza also spoke with Hicks.
“We have to take a stand against the accomplices of the Republican Party – the supporters of the recall, the Proud Boys, the financial allies of that effort – and we are asking the public to join us in a position against this recall, against this California coup,” said Gloria.
When asked to respond to criticism during the call, Hicks said he was not “here today to question the legality” of the recall.
“I think our focus is on making it clear to signatories, sponsors and funders who exactly is leading this effort – a series of individuals and extremist groups that got together and started this recall,” he said.
Fellow Dems: Recalls are not scams. Be careful.
– Mike Sharif (@_Mike_Sharif) January 12, 2021
Both Republicans and Democrats were quick to spread the party’s rhetoric.
“I am extremely disappointed and disturbed to see [the California Democratic Party] using that language, ”tweeted Samantha Corbin, a lobbyist and Democrat from Sacramento. “Especially now, when we are in a real national constitutional crisis, with threats of violence here in our own state capitol.”