After multiple attempts, the recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom – the second gubernatorial recall in California history – has been triggered, California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber announced Monday.
The announcement came amid an update of signature counting across all 58 counties in the Golden State.
“The requisite number of valid signatures has been reported to our office to initiate the recall of Governor Gavin Newsom,” Weber’s office announced “However, county elections officials must continue to verify the validity of any remaining signatures and must report the final signature verification on April 29, 2021.”
With the recall triggered, what’s next?
Welcome to the cacophony of 30-day sprees, Californians.
From here, local elections officials must afford signatories a 30-business day window to request their names be removed from recall petitions, if they so choose.
After that span is complete, the California Department of Finance and county elections officials have 30 business days to calculate the cost of the recall election. That figure is sent to the Join Legislative Budget Committee, Newsom, and Weber’s offices.
The budget committee has its own 30-day period to review the estimate provided by the Finance Department. After its review is concluded, the Secretary of State will certify, again, that there are sufficient signatures to take the recall to the ballot.
Then, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis will call for the recall election to be held between 60 and 80 days from the date the Secretary of State certifies the signature count.
That timeline shapes up to deliver an election in the late Fall or early winter of 2021, depending on expediency of review periods by the Department of Finance, Joint Budget Committee, and calendaring by Kounalakis.
Who’s in the race?
Thus far, three big-name Republicans have jumped in to challenge Newsom.
Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced his bid to oust Newsom to kick off 2021.
Monday, he cheered the qualification of the recall.
“Californians from all walks of life are seizing this historic opportunity to demand change,” Faulconer said in a statement Monday. “Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are coming together to support this recall and get our state back on track. As the only candidate who’s won tough elections and enacted real reform, I am ready to lead this movement.”
Businessman John Cox, the 2018 GOP nominee who battled with Newsom during his las run, is also taking another bid for the Governorship on the recall ballot.
“The people are speaking and they are being heard. The recall of Gavin Newsom is happening,” Cox said in a statement. “We are going to shake up Sacramento and take California in a new direction.”
Last week, reality star and former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner announced her bid for Governor on the recall ballot.
This story will be updated.
