After Recall Vote, California Voters Want To Abolish Recall Elections

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-California) survived in the recall election Tuesday as 63.9% of voters chose to let him keep his job for the remainder of his term. Now, many voters say the recall election itself was too expensive and pointless, so they want to get rid of it.

Many Californians who were at the polls Tuesday said the election was a distraction that distracted the state government’s time from issues like climate change and fighting COVID-19.

Despite the pressing issues that the state is facing, Newsom had to deal with the gubernatorial recall election that cost the state government $276 million to administer.

“Now, let’s get back to work,” Newsom tweeted just hours after he was confirmed to be the winner.

 

State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D) and other state lawmakers have discussed reforming recall elections in the 2022 election through a ballot initiative.

“This is a system that was put in place 100 years ago,” said Rendon. “We’ll be asking if this is what’s best for the state.”

Newsom might have just one more distraction despite Tuesday’s recall election outcome as his top GOP contender, Larry Elder, has already hinted a legal action against the governor.

“We have a voter integrity board all set up — most of these are lawyers,” Elder said last week. “So, when people hear things, they contact us. We’re going to file lawsuits in a timely fashion.”