An effort to trigger a revocation election to remove Governor Gavin Newsom from office could qualify for a statewide vote ahead of next month’s deadline, according to a report released on Friday by state election officials.
The report shows that nearly 1.2 million voter signatures on recall petitions were validated last week – just before the nearly 1.5 million signatures needed to qualify the recall measure. 380,000 additional signatures have been received by election officials, but have not yet been revised.
But supporters of the recall effort say they have since sent even more petitions, bringing the total to about 2.1 million signatures. Although electoral authorities have until April 29 to complete their review, the new report issued by Secretary of State Shirley Weber shows signatures being revised at a rate that may reach the required threshold early next month.
Newsom, who took office more than two years ago, said this week that he believes the recall measure will qualify. The election, in which voters will be asked whether to remove the governor and who will replace him on a list of substitute candidates, could be held this year.
“Governor Newsom finally realized that, you know, this is a viable threat to his political future,” said Orrin Heatlie, a Republican activist from Sacramento County and an official proponent of the recall, during an online event on Wednesday night.
If qualified, the recall would be only the second against a California governor. In 2003, then Gov. Gray Davis was removed by voters in a special election and replaced by Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger.
An election for voters to consider Newsom’s withdrawal would likely be a fierce battle, with Democrats insisting that the effort was little more than a Republican-led campaign, critical of illegal immigration, state tax policy and environmental protection efforts.
“It’s less about me; it’s more about California and our values, Democratic Party values, ”Newsom said during an interview Tuesday on ABC’s“ The View ”program.
But supporters of the recall say that Newsom’s actions during the pandemic – decisions not to intervene last year in closing local schools and to keep business sectors closed, and his renunciation of the mask during a dinner sitting in Napa Valley in November – were the driving force behind voters signing the petition.