Over 2 million signatures already! Recall of California governor could trigger re-election

Californians hold up “Recall Newsom” signs.

Wednesday (March 17) is the deadline for activists to submit signatures to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom. They have collected more than 2 million signatures that could put the proposal to a vote. The movement’s supporters say those signatures are enough to trigger another gubernatorial election in the middle of Newsom’s term.

The recall of Newsom reportedly needed only 1.5 million signatures to get it on the ballot, but its goal was 2 million to avoid the obstruction of some invalid signatures. So far they have reached their goal.

After petition signatures are submitted, county officials must verify the signatures and notify the secretary of state by April 29.

Orrin Heatlie, president of the California Patriots Union Committee to Remove Gavin 2020, the group leading the recall of Newsom, said Californians are “speaking loud and clear” with the popular petition. He added that the winds of change are sweeping through California politics.

Newsom shot back, acknowledging that the issue of his ouster would likely come up for a vote. But “the reality is that events are moving into the voting agenda, and we are ready to deal with it.” “We’re going to fight it and we’re going to defeat it.”

Newsom implied that Californians want to remove him because of “racist motives. He said the petition’s authors are concerned that California has become less white under his leadership.

In fact, the petition to remove Newsom does not mention race. The petition says, among other reasons, that “the laws he (Newsom) endorses favor foreign citizens, those who are in our country illegally, and more than national citizens.”

Democrats are now reportedly rallying behind Newsom to defend him from removal from office. They have also launched an effort called “Stop the Republican Recall,” which has the support of U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.Y.), Alex Padilla (D-N.Y.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Sanders (I-Vt.). California state lawmakers Katie Porter (R) and Ro Khanna (D) also expressed support for Newsom.

The White House has previously said that President Biden also opposes Newsom’s removal.