Campaign to recall Governor Gavin Newsom closing in on collecting required 1.5 million signatures

Governor Newsom spoke Wednesday in Fresno about the state's efforts aimed at speeding up coronavirus vaccinations.

While he spoke, protesters could be heard in the background chanting "Recall Gavin".

A campaign official for "Recall Gavin 2020" tells News Channel 3 they've collected 1.4 million of 1.5 million signatures needed by March 17th, to get the recall on the ballot.

"The people control this campaign.  It's not outside special interests.  It's not millionaires and billionaires who are putting one hundred million dollars into a recall effort," said Cathedral City resident Randy Economy, who is the Senior Advisor for the recall campaign.  

Economy says the primary motivation for the recall is how Newsom has responded to Covid-19, including the closures of schools and businesses, leading many businesses to close their doors for good.

A reporter in Fresno asked the Governor what his argument is against the recall.

"I'm focused every single day on getting businesses open, our schools opened, increasing the rate of vaccinations, more than triple the daily vaccination rate," said Newsom. 

Economy describes the effort aimed at recalling the Governor so far as a "political miracle".

He says the recall is the only reason why Newsom has partially reopened the state.

The Governor received support from the White House Tuesday with a tweet from Press Secretary Jen Psaki, which reads in part, "POTUS clearly opposes any effort to recall @GavinNewsom".

"We're doing everything we can to get this economy moving again safely," said Newsom. 

Economy says he's "confident" that the campaign's 200,000 volunteers will collect more than enough signatures to get the recall on the ballot.
He says they're aiming for 1.8 million. 

"His actions caused a lot of chaos and upheaval for the people of California," said Economy. 

So far, the highest profile candidates running campaigns to replace Newsom, should the recall election happen, are former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and former gubernatorial candidate John Cox.
Both are Republicans.

If enough verified signatures are collect, the recall election could take place as early as midsummer.

On the ballot, voters would be asked if they approve of there'll or reject it.
If a majority approves, the candidate who receives the highest number of votes, on the same ballot, would replace Governor Newsom.