Democrats, Progressives Fight California Governor Recall

Prominent progressives including Senators 👤Elizabeth Warren and 👤Bernie Sanders are backing a fight against the recall of California Governor 👤Gavin Newsom, in a sign that supporters are stepping up efforts to keep the embattled Democrat in office.

Newsom and his backers opened a campaign committee on Monday and began raising funds to oppose the recall, which was started by a small right-wing group but has become a cause celebre among Republicans nationwide and in the heavily Democratic state.

“I won’t be distracted by this partisan, Republican recall – but I will fight it,” Newsom said on Twitter on Monday. “There is too much at stake.”

Newsom, a former lieutenant governor and San Francisco mayor, was elected governor in 2018 with almost 62% of the vote. He would be up for re-election in 2022.

The California Democratic Party said on Monday it had donated $250,000 to the effort. Among supporters are Democrat Warren of Massachusetts and Sanders of Vermont, an independent who caucuses with Democrats. They also include Democratic Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey and Alex Padilla of California and voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams of Georgia.

To fight the recall, Newsom has also hired political consultant Juan Rodriguez, who served as Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign manager during her bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, the anti-recall campaign said.

Newsom is one of two Democratic governors under fire and at risk of removal in large, influential U.S. states. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is facing calls to resign and a possible impeachment amid allegations he sexually harassed female employees. Cuomo denies the allegations.