WASHINGTON – Californians are heading to the polls Tuesday to decide whether or not to remove Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom or at least those voters who have not voted by mail.
California’s unusual withdrawal election, triggered when anti-Newsom organizers collected about 1.5 million signatures needed to re-vote, will ask voters to decide whether to fire Newsom and, if so, choose a governor. substitute for the list of 46 alternatives, with conservative radio presenter Larry Elder leading the polls.
California, the nation’s most populous state and the world’s fifth-largest economy, faces a host of challenges, from rising cost of living to wildfires and drought. And Newsom alienated some voters during the Covid-19 pandemic when it closed businesses and instituted mask warrants, but was photographed eating without a mask at one of the nation’s most elegant restaurants located in its state’s wine region.
Over the summer, polls showed a neck-and-neck contest among potential voters, but Newsom seems to have recovered quite a bit in recent weeks as complacent Democrats, who outnumber Republicans by about two to one in the state, began participating. in the race and make plans to vote.
The majority of votes are expected to be cast by mail, as the state decided to send a ballot to all registered voters. Tuesday postage stamps are eligible.
Face-to-face voting is available and is expected to be used largely by conservatives, many of whom do not trust the ballots after former President Donald Trump demonized them during the 2020 presidential election.
The results could take a few days to process, especially if the race is close, and California tends to be slow in counting votes.
Some results will be available as soon as polls close, as officials can begin processing ballots received before election day. Analysts warn that these results are likely to distort Democrats more than the final voter, as many Republicans are expected to wait to vote in person.
Newsom and his allies have portrayed the withdrawal as a powerful right-winger, arguing that someone like Elder could never win California in a normal election. But, as a reminder, a narrow majority could vote to remove Newsom from office, and then a small plurality could install Elder as a replacement, as long as he receives more votes than the other 45 candidates.
Elder and other Newsom critics, meanwhile, say the governor has failed to address the most important issues affecting the state, such as homelessness, not to mention more familiar national issues, such as masked fights and vaccine warrants.
Withdrawal elections are rare and only a handful of states allow it. But the last time California recovered, he managed to eliminate former Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, prompting him to be replaced by Republican actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
If Newsom successfully defeats the withdrawal, which costs taxpayers an estimated $ 215 million, it won’t rest much off the campaign track, as it will face voters again next year in its campaign. re-election.