California gubernatorial recall candidate Larry Elder has conceded in the wake of a projected victory for incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom.
"We recognize that we lost the battle," Elder said in remarks delivered to supporters Tuesday evening. "But we are going to win the war."
"Because of us, because of you, they're going to have to pay attention," Elder said of Sacramento Democrats.
Elder also criticized the Gov. Gavin Newsom for dining at the French Laundry restaurant in Napa at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, disregarding masking and social-distancing guidelines; lambasted the state's public education system and raised alarms over California's water supply, wildfire preparedness programs. He raised the specter of rolling brownouts he attributed to wind and solar power infrastructure.
"I thought I could do something about the crime, I thought I could do something about the homelessness," Elder said, before lamenting rising California home prices, which he blamed on a so-called "strangle hold" of environmental activists on Newsom's office.
Elder went on to criticize media coverage of his campaign, complaining that national media outlets failed to recognize him as potentially the first Black governor of California in the event of a successful recall, while simultaneously characterizing such coverage as "racially divisive."
The conservative radio personality, an ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump, launched his campaign for governor in July. He was initially ineligible to appear on the ballot for filing incomplete tax returns. But he successfully sued state election authorities to that effect, claiming the law requiring tax disclosures only applied to primary races.
Elder has previously said he is "not leaving the stage" when it comes to political life in California. He continued that theme with his remarks delivered Tuesday night. "As a former radio host, let me just say this: Stay tuned."
