Recall Vote for California Governor Gavin Newsom Held
Dissatisfaction with COVID-19 Response...Republican Party Behind
If Recall Passes Majority, Biden Administration Also Faces Backlash
Expected to Act as Political Barometer in US Future
[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] A recall election for California Governor Gavin Newsom (Democrat), the most populous state in the U.S., began on the 14th (local time). This recall election started due to dissatisfaction with the COVID-19 response, and if the incumbent Democratic governor is removed, it will inevitably impact the Joe Biden administration, drawing keen attention from U.S. political circles.
According to U.S. media such as The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 14th (local time), the recall election to decide whether to remove Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom began at 7 a.m. in California. The recall vote will close at 8 p.m. on the same day, and out of 22 million eligible voters, 8.6 million have already cast their votes by mail.
The background of the recall election stems from dissatisfaction with Governor Newsom's COVID-19 response. In particular, the Republican side has raised this issue and led the recall effort. Republican supporters attacked Governor Newsom by referring to a dinner he had with friends at an upscale French restaurant in November last year. At that time, the Newsom administration had requested California residents to avoid private gatherings.
The recall ballot asks two questions: ▲whether to remove the governor ▲which candidate is supported as the next governor.
If the vote to remove exceeds 50%, Governor Newsom will lose his position, and the next governor will serve the remainder of the term. Currently, there are 46 candidates, most of whom are Republicans. Among them, the most prominent candidate is Larry Elder, a Black radio show host known for his strong conservative stance and support for former President Donald Trump.
Larry Elder stated, "Unvaccinated workers should be required to undergo weekly testing and wear masks at work," calling such mandates "arbitrary and extreme."
However, Governor Newsom counters by arguing, "These regulations saved lives and prevented an economic crisis."
California is known as a 'blue state' with a strong Democratic base, making this recall election particularly unusual.
The New York Times (NYT) described this recall election as "one of the first major indicators of the political direction of the U.S. since President Biden took office."
▲California residents who came out to the polling station to participate in the referendum [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
The Associated Press (AP) also predicted that the recall election results could influence the 2022 midterm elections.
As the California recall election becomes a political barometer, both the Democratic and Republican parties are fighting fiercely.
Last month, when Newsom's approval rating for retaining the governorship fell below 50%, the Democrats, sensing a crisis, brought former President Donald Trump into the election arena to rally their base.
Especially as Larry Elder, a strongly conservative Black Republican candidate, leads among the new governor candidates, the Democrats have intensified their offensive by framing him as the 'Black Trump.'
President Biden supported Newsom at a rally the day before, criticizing Elder as a "clone of Trump."
According to polling data, the response that Newsom should not be removed is somewhat dominant. According to the election-focused media FiveThirtyEight, 57.3% responded that Newsom should remain governor, compared to 41.5% who said he should be removed.
However, the key point to watch will be by what margin Newsom wins. If Newsom retains his position by a significant margin, his administration will gain momentum, but if he barely holds on, the Republican offensive is expected to intensify.
Meanwhile, this is only the second recall election for a California governor in history. In 2003, Governor Gray Davis (then Democrat) was removed, and Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected as the next governor.
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