Recall elections are rare. There have been many attempts--and 11 recall elections in California since 1913--but only six government officials were replaced.
California recall elections have the weight to impact the entire country, and the balance of power in the U.S. Senate is incredibly fragile. Democrats are barely in control with 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats and Vice President Kamala Harris as the tiebreaker. Now, there are questions about who would replace California Senior Sen. Dianne Feinstein, if she decides to retire before 2024.
Meanwhile, 22 million California voters are registered to receive a mail-in ballot for this election, and if more than half of the voters vote “no” on the recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom, he will remain governor. But if a majority votes “yes,” then Newsom will be replaced. With over forty-six candidates on the ballot, California voters have an overwhelming amount of choices.
This week on Audacy's weekly news podcast "Connect the Dots", host Lynda Lopez spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of “The State of California” about how the California recall works and the support for and against the election.
“The bar is actually pretty low to get a recall on the ballot in California,” Sovern said. “Ever since it became possible in the reforms of 1911, pretty much every governor since has faced the threat of a recall.”
Julie Edwards, former senior advisor for some U.S. Senators and senate campaigns, explained the colossal impact a successful “yes” vote can have on the entire country via Senate control, and said the Republican Party isn’t oblivious to the timing of this election.
“We’re seeing recall fever,” Edwards said. “Many of these, if not most of these, are being pushed by interests aligned with the Republican party.”
To learn more about the California gubernatorial recall election as the clock ticks on the September 14 due date, tune in to this week's "Connect the Dots."