(KTLA) – Another recall may be on the horizon for Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Saving California, a newly formed coalition founded late last year, announced its intent to serve Newsom with official recall papers, citing the state’s rising taxes, cost of living, ineffective emergency responses and population decline.
“Under the reign of Governor Newsom, living in California has become impossible for average people through years of poor policies which have increased the costs of living, increased crime, increased drug use and homelessness, increased the cost of burden on small businesses and communities, while decreasing our professional standards, education standards, the disappearance of billions of taxpayers’ dollars to failed pet programs, and our public services,” Randy Economy, the group’s founder, said in a statement.
This will be the eighth attempt to recall Newsom since he was elected. Only one attempt, however, made it onto the statewide ballot — the initiative brought in 2021 as a response to his adoption of aggressive public health safety measures at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Newsom easily beat back the recall in 2021 after framing the contest with his opponent and apparent successor should he have been ousted, conservative talk-show host Larry Elder, as part of the larger national ballot for progressive values and continued threats of “Trumpism.”
During a televised interview, Economy said this recall attempt differs from the others because Californians have been “personally impacted” by Newsom’s policies. He also claimed the governor is his own “worst enemy.”
In a statement to KTLA, the governor’s office said Newsom is “focused on the fires and marshaling resources for the extensive recovery – not politics.”
“Readers still should have the context that the same group of far-right Trump acolytes have launched seven different recall attempts against the governor since he’s taken office, each of which has failed spectacularly,” Newsom’s office said in a statement.
“Even Republican Party leaders have criticized these repeated attempts as a brazen campaign finance ‘grift,’ and the recall organizers have been sued by their own donors for pocketing funds raised previously. For example, they didn’t even turn in a single signature in their last attempt.”
A recall petition needs valid signatures equal to 12% of the turnout in the last governor’s election to qualify for the statewide ballot.
Saving California plans to hold a press conference Thursday morning to announce its recall efforts officially.
