The pandemic added fuel to a Republican-led effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom. But his announcement of a $100 billion economic recovery plan could splash cold water on the recall, according to some political observers.
"Goodbye genuine threat of a recall election," said Loyola Law Professor Jessica Levinson. "I think it had a very slim chance before the budget surplus announcement and I think now that chance is becoming one to two snowballs in hell."
"It's a huge surprise just thinking back to where we were a year ago when the economy seemed to be tanking and we were worried about enormous budget deficits here in California," says Jack Pitney, a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College. "It significantly lengthens the odds against a recall, to put it mildly. You never say never, but Newsom is probably feeling pretty happy today. Between being able to send checks to millions of Californians and being able to reopen the state, he's in pretty good shape."
Newsom aims to fully reopen the state's economy by June 15.