Newsom launches fight back against California recall

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California governor Gavin Newsom has hit out at the “Republican recall” effort aimed at removing him from office.

Mr Newsom launched a political committee on Monday to defend his job ahead of Wednesday’s deadline for recall organisers to submit 1.5 million signatures to get it on the ballot.

Supporters of the recall last week said they had already got 2 million signatures, which will be reviewed by election officials by the end of April.

“I won’t be distracted by this partisan, Republican recall - but I will fight it,” said Mr Newsom on Twitter.

“There is too much at stake. Getting Californians vaccinated, our economy safely reopened, and our kids back in school are simply too important to risk.”

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A string of national Democratic figures spoke out against the recall, while the state party promised Mr Newsom $250,000 in support.

“Gavin Newsom has shown the nation what courageous leadership looks like during the pandemic,” said Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey in a statement. 

“Defeating this cynical, Republican recall effort will be one of the most important priorities for Democrats this year.”

Mr Newsom has largely refused to comment on the recall effort, insisting that his focus was on the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am not going to take this recall attempt lying down,” Mr Newsom said in an email from his campaign on Monday.

“And let’s call it what it is: it’s a partisan, Republican recall — backed by the [Republican National Committee], anti-mask and anti-vax extremists, and pro-Trump forces who want to overturn the last election and have opposed much of what we have done to fight the pandemic.”

If successful, the recall election would only be the second in California history, and only the fourth ever in United States history.

Voters would first be asked whether Mr Newsom should be removed from office, and then be asked to choose from a list of candidates to replace him if it passes.

An Emerson College poll showed that only 38 per cent of voters said they would vote to remove Mr Newsom if an election was held.

If he successfully defeats the recall effort he is set to face re-election for a second term in office in 2022.