Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Newsom Has No One to Blame but Himself for Recall
bill-new-mug-002
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 3 years ago on
April 27, 2021

Share

Even though he is scheduled to come up for re-election next year, Gov. Gavin Newsom faces a recall first.

He has no one to blame but himself.

Portrait of GV Wire News Director Bill McEwen

Bill McEwen

Opinion

The recall was going nowhere until early November. Republican donors were sitting on their wallets. Fewer than 56,000 people had signed recall petitions.

Then Newsom ignored his own sage advice to fellow Californians. Shelter at home. Don’t be a COVID-19 spreader.

He compounded the mistake by attending the birthday party of his close friend, the powerhouse lobbyist Jason Kinney, at The French Laundry.

A Mistake That Couldn’t Be Erased

The Napa County restaurant is as exclusive as it gets. The three-star Michelin menu offers white truffles and caviar for $1,200 a person. And, the restaurant reportedly received $2.4 million in Payment Protection Program loans.

“I made a bad mistake. I should have stood up and walked back, got in my car, and drove back to my house.” — Gov. Gavin Newsom, on his French Laundry restaurant  excursion

“I made a bad mistake,” Newsom said. “I should have stood up and walked back, got in my car, and drove back to my house.”

But there are no do-overs in politics.

It was a classic “Let Them Eat Cake” moment, fueling resentment, energy, and donations into the dormant recall campaign.

One month after Newsom’s French Laundry excursion, recall signatures swelled 10-fold.

Taxpayers Foot $400 Million Recall

Now the taxpayers are going to have to clean up his mistake by spending an estimated $400 million on the recall. That figure comes courtesy of the California Association of Clerks and Elected Officials.

Technically speaking, the recall isn’t yet official even though recall organizers have gathered more than the roughly 1.5 million signatures required for a November recall election. That’s because petition signers have 30 days to ask for their signatures to be removed.

But the special election will happen. And, Newsom, who already has much on his plate, now must focus his attention on fending off dozens of challengers.

Is There Another Schwarzenegger Out There?

Many of these wanna-be governors are publicity seekers or people simply hoping to make a quick buck. The prime example: Caitlyn Jenner, whose website on the day of her gubernatorial announcement focused exclusively on selling merchandise.

The challenge for recall proponents is finding a candidate who can meld Trump Republicans and frustrated moderate Dems into a cohesive political force.

Yes, it will be a circus. But, as Gray Davis learned in 2003, the danger of any circus is that it can quickly spin out of control.

The pandemic has widened the state’s wealth gap, and moderate Democratic voters in inland regions see the governor’s progressive policies costing them jobs and paychecks.

The challenge for recall proponents is finding a candidate who can meld Trump Republicans and frustrated moderate Dems into a cohesive political force. GOP voters alone can’t oust Newsom. Their numbers are too small.

But, if there is a willing Republican who matches the celebrity, charisma, and political preparation that Arnold Schwarzenegger brought 18 years ago, Newsom will have a fight on his hands.

Thus far, that Republican has yet to emerge. I’m not sure one exists.

In an up-or-down vote on the governor, with former San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer and perennial candidate John Cox as the leading alternatives, Newsom wins in a walk.

[activecampaign form=19]

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Newsom, Legislators Opt for Gimmicks and Wishful Thinking to Close California’s Budget Deficit

DON'T MISS

Courage to Embrace Change: El Rio Reyes Conservation Trust Boldly Rebrands as Kings River Land Trust

DON'T MISS

Committed to Politics or Committed to Fresno’s Children?

DON'T MISS

Repealing Prop. 47 is a Misguided Battle Cry. It Won’t Make California Safer.

DON'T MISS

Misty Her Might Be Best Superintendent Candidate. But Fresno Unified Still Needs a Statewide Search.

DON'T MISS

How California’s Prized Solution for Methane Gas Is Backfiring on Farmers

DON'T MISS

Many Californians Rely on This Farmers Market Program. Newsom Wants to Cut It

DON'T MISS

Carbon Capture Storage Is Key to California’s Economy & Energy Future

DON'T MISS

Shady Business Owners Can Hide Behind LLCs. CA Should Make Their Identities Public.

DON'T MISS

SLO Moves to End Gerrymandering, Yet Much of California Still Lets Politicians Draw Voting Maps

No data was found
Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP Pick in 2000, Dead at 82

14 hours ago

Trump Criticizes Judge and His Daughter After Gag Order in Hush-Money Case

15 hours ago

CA Insurance Market ‘in Chaos,’ Says Former Insurance Commissioner. Can Lara Fix It?

16 hours ago

Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Sets a Record After Wall Streets Breaks Out of Its Lull

16 hours ago

House Speaker Mike Johnson Headed to Fresno on April 4

16 hours ago

Bredefeld, Smittcamp Debate the Salary of Valley Children’s CEO

16 hours ago

CA’s Liberal Government Has a Long History of Caving to Special Interests

17 hours ago

Corrupt Process? Bullard, Edison Parents Blast Handling of Superintendent Search

17 hours ago

Police Had About 90 Seconds to Stop Traffic Before Baltimore Bridge Fell. 6 Workers Are Feared Dead

18 hours ago

NBC Has Cut Ties With Former RNC Head Ronna McDaniel After Employee Objections, Some on the Air

18 hours ago

Supermom Carmi Is Ready to Be Embraced by Her Forever Family

Carmi, an incredible 1-year-old kitten mama, can be very gentle but can also get overstimulated and give love bites. Even her warm, honey-co...
Animals /

2 hours ago

Animals /
2 hours ago

Supermom Carmi Is Ready to Be Embraced by Her Forever Family

9 hours ago

Ukrainian Navy Says a Third of Russian Warships in the Black Sea Have Been Destroyed or Disabled

Composite image of President Trump and Devin Nunes
13 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: How Going to Work for Trump Turned Devin Nunes Into a Millionaire

14 hours ago

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP Pick in 2000, Dead at 82

15 hours ago

Trump Criticizes Judge and His Daughter After Gag Order in Hush-Money Case

16 hours ago

CA Insurance Market ‘in Chaos,’ Says Former Insurance Commissioner. Can Lara Fix It?

16 hours ago

Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Sets a Record After Wall Streets Breaks Out of Its Lull

16 hours ago

House Speaker Mike Johnson Headed to Fresno on April 4

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend