The effort to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom has gained momentum in recent weeks as local businesses join the movement, using their retail space to host petition signing events. The “Recall Gavin 2020” effort is comprised of “a grassroots army” seeking to collect the 1,495,709 valid signatures required to prompt a special statewide recall election. In order to succeed, the campaign must submit the nearly 1.5 million valid signed petitions–with ink on paper–from Californians by March 17 to the California Secretary of State. If certified, the measure to recall Newsom would be placed on the ballot during a special election in 2021. The measure would ask voters whether Newsom should be removed, and if so, who should replace him as governor. Newsom, who took office in Jan. of 2019, is currently in his first term.
Every governor since Ronald Reagan has faced a recall effort. The only one that succeeded, however, took place in 2003. Governor Gray Davis was recalled a few months into his second term and replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
