Gavin Newsom recall, Governor of California (2019-2021)/Path to the ballot

2019-2021; Gavin Newsom recall:; Governor of California
	Election result
	Retained
	Table of contents
	Election updates; Candidates; Frequently asked questions; Key dates and deadlines; Polling; Campaign finance; Noteworthy endorsements; Timeline; Election history; Historical gubernatorial recalls; Recent news
	Path to the ballot; See also; External links; Footnotes

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) was retained in a recall election on September 14, 2021. Newsom was retained 61.9% to 38.1%. Roughly 12.8 million voters participated in the election. To see the results of the replacement candidate question, click here.^[1]

Voters had to decide two questions: whether Newsom should be recalled and, if so, who should replace him. A majority vote was required on the first question for the governor to be recalled. If Newsom had been recalled, the candidate with the most votes on the second question would have won the election, no majority required.^[2]

Forty-six candidates, including nine Democrats and 24 Republicans, ran in the election. Approximately 7.4 million voters selected a candidate on the second question. The five candidates to receive the most votes were: radio host Larry Elder (R) with 48.4%, YouTuber Kevin Paffrath (D) with 9.6%, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer (R) with 8.0%, doctor Brandon Ross (D) with 5.3%, and 2018 gubernatorial candidate John Cox (R) with 4.1%. Eight other candidates received at least 1% of the vote.

This page contains information related to this recall prior to the election certification. On it you will find:

To read more about the certified recall election, click here.

Signature collection data

Organizers needed to collect 1,495,709 valid signatures to put the recall measure on the ballot. Once a month, organizers were required to file signature status reports with the secretary of state. The secretary of state processes signatures and validates the signatures according to state law. Invalid signatures do not count towards the total required to put the recall election on the ballot. The figures below were compiled from official signature reports.

In official reporting, signatures are separated into four categories:

Received - The secretary of state has received but not processed these signatures.
Verified - The secretary of state has processed these signatures.
Invalid - The secretary of state has processed these signatures. These signatures do not meet the requirements to be deemed valid.
Valid - The secretary of state has processed these signatures. These signatures met the requirements to be deemed valid.

California's recall laws required individuals signing the petition to be a registered voter in the jurisdiction of the official subject to the recall effort. In this case, petition signers had to be registered California voters for the signature to be deemed valid.

Final cumulative statewide summary with signatures removed
# of signatures received	# of signatures verified	Invalid signatures	Total valid signatures	Withdrawn signatures	Final total valid signatures	Link
2,161,349	2,161,349	441,406	1,719,943	43	1,719,900	Link

Signature reports
Report	Dates	Number of signatures received^[3]	Link
First	June 10 - July 3	35,083	Link
Second	July 4 - August 3	19,592	Link
Third	August 4 - September 3	352	Link
Fourth	September 4 - October 6	308	Link
Fifth	October 7 - November 5	230	Link
Sixth	November 6 - December 7	442,155	Link
Seventh	December 8 - January 6	226,004	Link
Eighth	January 7 - February 5	370,013	Link
Ninth	February 6 - March 11	741,286	Link
Tenth	March 12 - March 17	326,326	Link
	Total	2,161,349

Support

Orrin Heatlie, a resident of Folsom, filed the recall petition against Newsom. Heatlie worked in the Yolo County Sheriff's Office for 25 years. The other board members of Recall Gavin Newsom include Mike Netter, a former executive at Corporate Express and Staples, and Robin McCrea, a former budget analyst at California State University, Chico.^[4]

Heatlie filed the following notice of intent with the secretary of state:

“

TO THE HONORABLE SECRETARY OF STATE OF CALIFORNIA. Pursuant to the California Constitution and California election laws, the undersigned registered and qualified electors of the State of California, respectfully state that we seek the recall and removal of Gavin Newsom holding the office of Governor of California. We demand an election of a successor to that office. The following filed Notice of Intent to Circulate Recall Petition was served on February 20, 2020 to Governor Newsom.

TO THE HONORABLE GAVIN NEWSOM: Pursuant to section11020, California Elections Code, the undersigned registered qualified voters of the State of California, hereby give notice, we are the proponents of a recall petition and we intend to seek your recall and removal from the office of Governor in the State of California and to demand election of a successor in that office. The grounds for this recall are as Follows: Governor Newsom has implemented laws which are detrimental to the citizens of this state and our way of life. Laws he endorsed favor foreign nationals, in our country illegally, over that of our own citizens. People in this state suffer the highest taxes in the nation, the highest homelessness rates, and the lowest quality of life as a result. He has imposed sanctuary state status and fails to enforce immigration laws. He unilaterally over-ruled the will of the people regarding the death penalty. He seeks to impose additional burdens on our state by the following; removing the protections of Proposition 13, rationing our water use, increasing taxes and restricting parental rights. Having no other recourse, we the people have come together to take this action, remedy these misdeeds and prevent further injustices.

The printed names of the proponents are as follows: 1.Orrin E. Heatlie, 2.Dan Seoane, 3.Michael Netter, 4.Rennie James, 5.Robin McCrea, 6.Christine Abercrombie, 7.Gregory Fougerousse, 8.Jeanne Fougerousse, 9.Linda L. Marshall, 10.Eric Westman.^[5]

”

—Orrin Heatlie's notice of intent^[6]

Supporters

The following individuals and groups expressed support for the recall campaign:

2018 gubernatorial candidate John Cox (R)^[7]
Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer (R)^[8]
Former San Diego Councilman Carl DeMaio (R)^[9]
Chamath Palihapitiya^[10]
California Republican Party^[11]
Republican National Committee^[12]

Opposition

In June 2020, Newsom made the following statement in response to Heatlie's second recall effort:

“	GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM’S ANSWER TO RECALL STATEMENT: WARNING: THIS UNWARRANTED RECALL EFFORT WILL COST CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS 81 MILLION DOLLARS! IT IS BEING PUSHED BY POLITICAL EXTREMISTS SUPPORTING PRESIDENT TRUMP’S HATEFUL ATTACKS ON CALIFORNIA. In 2018 California voters elected Governor Gavin Newsom by historic margins. As Governor, Newsom is working to 1) increase funding for public education, 2) protect and secure Californians’ health and health care, 3) improve water, roads, and bridges, 4) address the challenges of housing affordability and homelessness, and 5) prepare for the threats of wildfires. Our budget is balanced. Our fiscal reserves are unprecedented. Our economy and employment are historically strong. Yet a handful of partisan activists supporting President Trump and his dangerous agenda to divide America are trying to overturn the definitive will of California voters and bring Washington’s broken government to California with this recall effort. The last thing California needs is another wasteful special election, supported by those who demonize California’s people and attack California’s values. Do not be fooled – California’s police officers, firefighters, first responders, public school teachers, health providers, and business leaders all STRONGLY OPPOSE this costly recall. DO NOT HAND OVER YOUR SIGNATURE, YOUR SUPPORT OR YOUR PERSONAL, PRIVATE INFORMATION TO THIS DESTRUCTIVE RECALL SCHEME. ^[5]	”
—Governor Gavin Newsom's Answer to Recall Statement^[6]

Opponents

The following groups and individuals expressed opposition to the recall campaign:

President Joe Biden (D)^[13]
Vice President Kamala Harris (D)^[14]
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)^[15]
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)^[16]
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.)^[15]
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)^[15]
U.S. Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.)^[17]
State Sen. Steve Glazer (D)^[18]
State Rep. Laura Friedman (D)^[18]
State Rep. Lorena Gonzalez (D)^[18]
Stacey Abrams^[15]
Democratic Party of California^[18]
Service Employees International Union California^[19]
National Union of Healthcare Workers^[18]
California Labor Federation^[20]
California Teachers Association^[21]
California Legislative Jewish Caucus^[22]
Los Angeles Business Council^[23]
Valley Industry & Commerce Association^[23]

Inactive recall campaigns

First recall effort (submitted by Erin Cruz; ended)

First recall effort (click to expand)

The recall effort was introduced by Erin Cruz and 69 others on March 15, 2019. It failed to qualify for the ballot.^[24]

Second recall effort (submitted by Erin Cruz; ended)

Second recall effort (click to expand)

The recall effort was introduced by author and former U.S. Senate candidate Erin Cruz (R) and 137 others on August 2, 2019. The recall was approved for circulation by Secretary of State Alex Padilla (D) on September 6, 2019. Cruz ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2018 for Dianne Feinstein's (D) seat.^[24]

The recall petition alleged that Newsom mismanaged the state and caused poor schools, deteriorating infrastructure, high costs for gas and utilities, and increased homelessness and debt. Her recall petition also criticized Newsom's support of certain policies, which included Medicare for All and laws that aid immigrants living in the country illegally.

According to the secretary of state's office, the recall supported by Erin Cruz did not submit enough valid signatures to force a recall election against Gov. Newsom. The recall submitted 281,917 valid signatures.^[25] Supporters of that recall had until February 13, 2020, to collect 1,495,709 valid signatures.^[26]

The petition listed the following reasons for recall:

“	Over a decade of proven mismanagement of-policies, public monies and resources, and of leadership have led to deterioration of California communities, poor schools, crumbling infrastructure, outrageous rise of costs from gas to utilities, mass housing crisis, frightening increase in homelessness, and insurmountable debt... all caused by gross mismanagement. Massive increased public safety risk by pushing forward laws and policies like Medicare for All or Universal Healthcare, and laws protecting and helping illegal aliens. Putting Californians and United States Citizens, including our veterans, last.^[5]	”
—Erin Cruz's notice of intent^[27]

Cruz recall: Final signature report
Date	Number of signatures received	Number of signatures verified	Invalid signatures	Total valid signatures	Link
February 13, 2020	352,271	336,279	53,132	281,917	Link

In August 2019, Newsom made the following statement in response to the recall effort:

“

WARNING: THIS UNWARRANTED RECALL EFFORT WILL COST CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS $81 MILLION DOLLARS! IT IS BEING PUSHED BY POLITICAL EXTREMISTS SUPPORTING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S HATEFUL ATTACKS ON CALIFORNIA.

Less than one year ago, by historic margins, California voters elected Gavin Newsom Governor.

Since then, Governor Newsom has already made good on his promises to 1) increase funding for public education, 2) protect and secure your health care, 3) improve water, roads and bridges and 4) prepare California for wildfire threats.

Our budget is balanced. Our reserves are unprecedented. Our state economy and employment have hit historic highs.

Yet a handful of partisan activists supporting President Trump and his dangerous agenda to divide America are trying to overturn the definitive will of California voters and bring Washington's broken government to California with this recall effort.

The last thing California needs is another wasteful special election, supported by those who demonize California's people and attack California's values.

Do not be fooled - California's police officers, firefighters, first responders, public school teachers, health providers, and business leaders all STRONGLY OPPOSE this costly recall.

DO NOT HAND OVER YOUR SIGNATURE, YOUR SUPPORT OR YOUR PERSONAL, PRIVATE INFORMATION TO THIS DESTRUCTIVE RECALL SCHEME.^[5]

”

—Governor Gavin Newsom's Answer to Recall Statement^[28]^[29]

List of supporters

Third recall effort (submitted by James Veltmeyer; ended)

Third recall effort (click to expand)

The recall effort was introduced on August 6, 2019, by La Jolla physician and former U.S. House candidate James Veltmeyer (R). The secretary of state rejected the petition but it was re-filed by Veltmeyer on August 26.^[32] Veltmeyer ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House in 2016 and 2018. The recall petition criticized Newsom due to tax increases, the rate of homelessness in major cities, sanctuary city policies, and his support for providing healthcare to immigrants living in the country illegally.^[33] Supporters of the recall had until March 5, 2020, to collect 1,495,709 signatures to force a recall election.^[34]^[32] Veltmeyer ended the recall on January 6, 2020. He said on his recall website that he was ending the recall effort because it was not going to be successful and that the recall did not have the money to collect signatures.^[35]

The petition listed the following reasons for recall:

“

Governor Gavin Newsom has violated the trust of California residents in four major areas:

Health care for illegal aliens. He seeks to make California taxpayers pay for the health care of criminal lawbreakers who entered our nation illegally at a starting cost of over $100 million. This policy will serve as a magnet to attract thousands more illegal immigrants to California which will lead to skyrocketing costs and additional burdens on physicians and hospitals.

Tax increases. Despite a massive budget surplus of $21 billion, he proposes more than $2 billion in additional taxes on the people of California including a water tax. California already has the highest taxes in the nation which are driving away our best residents and businesses.

Homelessness. He has allowed our major cities to be overrun by homelessness, creating a threat to public health and hygiene and leading to Third World-like conditions and diseases in places like Los Angeles and San Francisco

Sanctuary State & Cities. He has violated and subverted federal immigration law by encouraging 'Sanctuary State' and city policies that shield criminal illegals aliens from law enforcement and immigration authorities, including vicious and brutal MS-13 gang members.^[5]

”

—James Veltmeyer's notice of intent^[36]