The recall election for California Gov. Gavin Newsom will take place Sept. 14, the state’s Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis announced on Thursday. If Newsom is recalled, it will be only the second time in California history, following the recall of Gray Davis in 2003.
“Although the window of time from which I could select a date was narrow, I believe we have chosen a fair and reasonable date for this election to take place. It has always been my intention to choose an election date that gives election officials and the public ample time to ensure a smooth election with broad participation,” Kounalakis said in a statement.
With this timeline, candidates have just over two weeks to decide on entering the race to replace Newsom. Some Republicans have already launched their unofficial campaigns in recent months, while Democrats could still pose a threat to the current governor. So far, California Democrats have not publicly announced a plan to run.
Newsom, on the other hand, has mostly framed the recall effort as the Republic Party’s way of promoting its conservative agenda. Some of the contentious issues in discussion include the governor’s policies around his response to COVID-19, environmental protection and gun control.
Prospective candidates who want to enter the race have to file their paperwork 59 days before the election.
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