The following is an installment in a weekly series of commentary articles by Cameron Arcand, founder of the conservative commentary website Young Not Stupid and a contributor to The Western Journal.
The long-awaited election to decide whether or not to remove Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom from office is less than two weeks away, but some voters are already beginning to cast their ballots through the mail.
Newsom has been hosting rallies to drum up support, and the top contenders to replace him have been taking aim at the governor — and, in some cases, each other.
Political messaging is playing a major role in the recall, with outside groups releasing scathing ads attacking the infamous French Laundry patron.
The PAC Californians United produced a series of ads “thanking” Newsom for the policies he and his Democratic cohorts have implemented in the Golden State.
The first clip highlights Newsom’s hypocrisy throughout the coronavirus pandemic, noting that California is “lagging behind much of the nation.”
Why should Newsom be recalled?
Released criminals while crime surged
Homelessness rising
Crushed small businesses due to shutdowns
Nation’s highest gas prices
Closed public schools while his kids were learning in-person in private school
Vote YES➡️ https://t.co/kxvfbdSsu3 pic.twitter.com/uFueEWeyX6
— Californians United (@Californians_UN) August 27, 2021
Another video tells a story of a single mother who voted for Newsom but now regrets her decision because of schools switching to online learning.
“As a single mother, I had no other choice but to quit my job so I could take care of my child,” the woman explains.
“I voted for Gavin because I thought he wanted to protect single mothers,” she adds. “Instead, convicted criminals were given more freedoms than us.”
Californians were forced to stay home & close their businesses while Gavin Newsom was wining & dining in fancy restaurants
He allowed felons to walk free while locking down innocent, law-abiding citizens in their own homes
Thanks Gavin Newsom
Vote YES➡️https://t.co/lwLY1HvKjR pic.twitter.com/hHTC1FsP1b
— Californians United (@Californians_UN) August 31, 2021
Another ad features conservative commentator Christian Walker, who describes gas prices in California as “outrageous” and dives into how the cost of living in California is unsustainable for the average person.
California has the HIGHEST GAS PRICES in the country
But our Governor must not worry about that as he’s being chauffeured around to private dinners.
Another day in the life of a Californian—Thanks Gavin Newsom.
Vote YES to kick Gavin to the curb ➡️ https://t.co/r9F6QGIyac pic.twitter.com/xDs79zoXjs
— Californians United (@Californians_UN) August 31, 2021
These ads are cleverly aimed at people besides reliably Republican voters who already want Newsom out of Sacramento, as they are the ones who will ultimately decide the election.
Taylor Strand, founder of Californians United, told The Western Journal that she hoped the group’s message would resonate with all voters.
“I started Californians United because I saw an opportunity for a reach across the aisle with Democrats and independents where we all agreed on something,” Strand said.
“I wanted to educate voters in California about why we’re in the situations we are in.”
This is another pipe to Newsom’s knees in the surprisingly close race in the deep blue state.
Current polling shows a 5.6 percent average lead for the governor, according to FiveThirtyEight.
If Newsom thought he was entitled to survive the recall because of his party affiliation, he underestimated the power of conservative organizers in California.
