Recall Gov. Newsom Campaign Gains Traction In California

Authored by Drew van Voorhis via The Epoch Times,

A campaign seeking to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom is picking up
pace in�Orange County,
California, and statewide. In the past few weeks, prominent
Republicans in the county have endorsed the recall campaign, citing
concerns about increased lockdown measures hurting the livelihoods
of Californians.

The petition to start the recall process, run
by the political action committee Rescue California, was granted an
extension by a judge Nov. 6, giving it until March 17,
2021, to gather the minimum 1,495,709 signatures needed. It
currently has over 800,000.

The Lincoln Club of Orange County, a pro-business political
organization, endorsed the campaign Dec. 8. Seth Morrison,
executive director of the Lincoln Club told The Epoch Times, “We
feel confident that the recall team has the tools necessary to be
successful, and we are seeing more and more people step up to get
involved. The governor should be very nervous.â€

Rachel Potucek, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Orange
County, told The Epoch Times in an email, “It is highly
unlikely that a recall would ultimately succeed. This is clearly a
political stunt.â€

Regarding the lockdowns, she said:

“To protect our businesses, we must stop COVID-19. To
stop COVID-19, we must listen to health experts.â€

Morrison cited as reasons for the recall the many economic
impacts, especially on small businesses, of Newsom’s stringent
lockdowns. He also noted parents are having to cut back on work or
quit their jobs to care for children who are not able to attend
school in person.

Another prominent Orange County Republican who recently jumped
on the recall effort is Supervisor Don Wagner, who is
an honorary chair of the recall campaign.

“I support the recall because the governor has
demonstrated repeated failures to protect the people of
California,†Wagner told The Epoch Times via text
message.

“His COVID responses have been erratic, hypocritical, not
worked, and made the mental, physical and emotional health of
California worse, not better.â€

Wagner criticized Newsom’s support of affirmative action and
of AB 5, the controversial law that has limited the gig economy in
California. He criticized Newsom for dining at the French Laundry
restaurant with lobbyists after telling Californians to stay home,
a much-publicized incident for which Newsom has apologized.

Supervisor Donald Wagner attends a meeting of the Orange County
Board of Supervisors in Santa Ana, Calif., on Aug. 25, 2020. (John
Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

“He wants to replace all cars with electric vehicles in a few
years, but can’t keep the power on today,†Wagner
continued.

“He has mismanaged the forests so that wildfires are
destroying lives and whole communities.

“People are fleeing California because of all this
mismanagement. We cannot take too much more of it.â€

Wagner has been vocal against lockdowns in Orange County,
starting his own petition called Open CAL Now.

He introduced a resolution this month that seeks to have the
county, instead of the state, control public health measures.

Other Orange County figures who support the recall effort
include former Mayor of Anaheim Curt Pringle, former Supervisor Jim
Silva, and Republican Party of Orange County Chairman Fred
Whitaker, who all have joined as honorary chairs or co-chairs.

Rescue California has been successful before at having a
governor recalled. It led the recall of Gov. Gray Davis in
2003.