California poised to set date for election targeting Newsom

California is close to finalizing a date for a recall election that could oust Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom from office

California Recall

California moved Thursday toward finalizing a date for a recall election that could oust Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom from office, while the Republican field might be headed for a major shakeup with the addition of conservative talk show host Larry Elder.

Officials in Sacramento inched toward completing the convoluted legal steps to formally place the recall on the ballot, which when finished will allow Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis to set a date for the election.

It would have to be a minimum of 60 days away from the day the election is officially certified, but no more than 80 days, with many predicting a mid-September vote on Newsom’s future.

A recall in the nation’s most populous state would become a marquee contest with national implications, watched closely as a barometer of the public mood heading toward the 2022 elections, when a closely divided Congress again will be in play.

While the final date remained uncertain, the campaign has been underway for months, after it became clear that recall organizers had gathered more than enough of the required 1.5 million petition signatures needed to place the recall on the ballot.

Many voters have yet to pay attention to the emerging election, while polls have shown Newsom would beat back the effort to remove him. Republicans haven’t won a statewide race in heavily Democratic California since 2006.

Elder’s entry into the race would give the Republican field a jolt of celebrity sparkle and a name on the ticket known through his nationally syndicated radio show and appearances on Fox News.

Other Republicans who have said they will run include Kevin Faulconer, the former Republican mayor of San Diego, Republican businessman John Cox who was defeated by Newsom in 2018, former U.S. Rep. Doug Ose and reality TV personality and former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner.

Elder, 69, issued a brief statement Wednesday night saying he was seriously considering entering the race and would announce his decision early next week.

In a recall election, voters would be asked two questions: First, should Newsom be removed, yes or no? The second question would be a list of replacement candidates to choose from, if a majority of voters cast ballots to remove Newsom.

Tom Del Beccaro, a former head of the state Republican Party who chairs Rescue California, one of the groups promoting the recall, said Elder would help drive up support for the critical first question in his home Los Angeles area, the most populous in the state.

“Statewide races in California are often won or lost in L.A. county,” said Del Beccaro, who is not aligned with any candidate. Elder “is going to bring a constituency that is going to help us get a ‘yes’ on the question No. 1.”

Steve Frank, a longtime conservative activist serving as Elder's spokesman, said his entry into the race would become “a major game-changer.” People across the political spectrum “know him, and many listen to his show.”

Elder also would bring more diversity to the Republican ranks - he's Black.

Claremont McKenna College political scientist Jack Pitney said Elder's entry into the race would be a setback for Cox because “Elder would appeal to the hard-core Republican, conservative base that would have been Cox's base.” Faulconer is considered a GOP moderate.

Pitney doubted Elder's race would play a significant factor, with the Black vote typically running strongly Democratic. Elder “has a reputation for being a provocative conservative, not a champion of African-American interests,” Pitney said.

Meanwhile Thursday, the state Finance Department released its final estimate for state and county costs to run the election: $276 million.

The recall push has been largely driven by fallout over state health restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic, which shuttered schools and thousands of businesses.

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Ronayne reported from Sacramento.