A group of conservative activists have launched another recall effort against California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The activists hope to capitalize on the state’s budget deficit and thwart the Democrat governor before making a potential presidential run.

“Governor Newsom has abandoned the state to advance his Presidential ambitions, leaving behind a $68 Billion budget deficit and a public safety, immigration and education crisis,” Rescue California wrote on its website.

According to Rescue California, Newsom:

  • Granted 700,000 illegal immigrants free health care at a cost to taxpayers of $3 billion annually, while cutting vital programs for veterans, school children, the disabled and the homeless.
  • Kept schools closed during Covid longer than other states allowing California students to fall further behind in basic skills such as language and mathematics.
  • Closed prisons and ordered the release of thousands of dangerous criminals onto our streets.
  • Weakened our public safety laws, creating an epidemic of smash and grab crimes and violent assaults.
  • Forced Californians to suffer under the highest taxes in the nation and the highest home prices outside Hawaii, while he undermines Prop. 13.
  • Spends billions on government homeless programs that have repeatedly failed.

POLITICO reports:

A citizen-led group plans to formally serve Newsom’s office Monday morning with recall papers, organizers informed POLITICO, the initial step in a long and likely expensive process to qualify their effort for the statewide ballot.

Newsom, unchecked by campaign donation limits and fortified by nearly $75 million in spending from his committees and allies, beat back the prior recall that made it onto the ballot in 2021 and was organized by some of the same activists. Newsom cruised over Republican talk-radio host Larry Elder, who faced an onslaught of criticism, even from among the recall’s own organizers, over differences in message and strategy. At least five other Newsom recalls have been started but did not move forward.

Proponents of the latest attempt, which is led by Rescue California, pointed to Newsom’s ambitions and his role as a super surrogate for President Joe Biden’s 2024 reelection campaign. They contend the governor is too busy occupying himself on national politics while the state is racing to close a massive budget shortfall. Last week, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office projected that the state budget faces a $73 billion deficit, nearly double Newsom’s own forecast.

Newsom survived the 2021 recall initiative by a vote of 61.9% to 38.1%.

According to KCRA 3, Newsom will have 10 days to formally respond to the latest recall effort.

From KCRA 3:

That response will end up on a petition that will begin circulating to gather signatures to land the issue on the ballot.

In order for it to qualify for the November ballot, proponents will need to gather enough valid signatures equal to 12% of the vote for Newsom in the last election (just under 1.4 million) by May. If the signature gathering lasts beyond May, the election could happen later.

“Trump Republicans are launching another wasteful recall campaign to distract us from the existential fight for democracy and reproductive freedom.  We will defeat them,” Newsom said Monday.

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