There's more at stake in California's Sept 14. recall election than just whether Gov. Gavin Newsom will be removed from office.
"It is a prelude to 2022 and the midterms, the ultimate warm-up game. That means that there are going to be heavy-hitters that are going to play," political analyst and Sonoma State University professor David McCuan told KNX.
As the governor travels the state making a pitch to voters as to why he should stay in office, McCuan said Newsom will need to gain support from nationally recognized politicians.
"You're going to have to enlist the White House. You're going to have to enlist California's own Kamala Harris, the vice president. You're going to have to talk to [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi about raising the Democratic war chest to help the governor," he said.
The California Republican Party voted earlier in August not to endorse a candidate in the election despite supporting the recall effort.
The race includes current GOP frontrunner, conservative radio personality Larry Elder, former San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer, conservative activist John Cox and celebrity Caitlyn Jenner.
Republican National Committee member Shawn Steel, who initiated a motion to table the endorsement vote along with fellow RNC member Harmeet Dhillon, called Newsom "the worst governor, not only in California history, but even before California became a state," according to The Sacramento Bee.
Steel argued that endorsing any one of the candidates in the race might decrease Republican turnout and help Newsom.
McCuan, however, said there is already additional pressure on Newsom following New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's resignation last week.
"It becomes national because Andrew Cuomo resigned in New York. All the public attention nationally will turn to what is happening in California," said McCuan.
The Republican candidates, with Elder noticeably absent, held their first debate and pummeled Newsom's response to the pandemic. Newsom still leads in the polls, but his lead has dwindled.
