Is it inevitable that a prominent Democrat will challenge Newsom in the recall?

[brooklynite]

Los Angeles Times

As the effort to oust Gov. Gavin Newsom from office intensifies, a critical question is whether another Democrat jumps into the race to replace him. No candidate has come forward yet, but many political experts believe it is inevitable.

...snip...

Democratic contenders could come from a handful of categories: an impatient progressive frustrated by the logjam for top statewide seats, a candidate with nothing to lose, a rich neophyte or a party pick if Democratic leaders ultimately decide it’s too risky not to have a backup plan.

Rumors are swirling about potential candidates quietly talking to donors and allies. They include former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who ran against Newsom for governor in 2018 but quickly endorsed him after he lost in the primary. He pivoted to the COVID-19 crisis when asked whether he would enter the race.

“At a time when we’ve lost 50,000 Californians in the middle of a pandemic, politics is the last thing we should be talking about,” Villaraigosa said.

On Friday, after he tweeted about the detrimental effect of school closures — an implicit criticism of Newsom’s handling of the pandemic and one of the recall proponents’ top arguments against him — a longtime advisor to the governor lashed out at him.

[Voltaire2]

1. I thought a recall was essentially a ballot question: 'yes/no'.

[Celerity]

2. Voters will be asked two questions: Do they want to recall Newsom, and -- regardless of how they

answer the first question — if he is recalled, who should replace him?

[Voltaire2]

4. Oh well then there had better be a democratic alternative on that ballot.

Newsom fucked up with that french laundry debacle. Hopefully the recall will fail, but if it passes and there is no alternative a repub governor is a certainty, right?

[Celerity]

5. well, in 2003 (Davis recall) there were 135 candidates, but Bustamante, (by far the biggest Dem)

by reneging on a state-wide stance that no big Dem should run, helped scupper Davis, as he gave the recall credibility.

The big positive for 2021 is that is no Rethug remotely close to Schwarzenegger in popularity.

It would take a series of extraordinarily events for it to become a close run thing.

[Voltaire2]

6. The risk of no Dem candidate is stupid.

[Celerity]

7. I disagree, it emboldens Dems to vote to recall Newsom

[Voltaire2]

8. Your approach guarantees a repub gov if the recall succeeds.

You might want to reconsider.

[Celerity]

9. your logic failed in 2003, so perhaps you should be the one to rethink it

[Voltaire2]

10. So your theory is that if no dem is on ballot recall 100% certain to fail.

have a nice day.

[Celerity]

11. Pelosi to California Democrats: Don't run in Newsom recall

https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2021/03/25/pelosi-to-california-democrats-dont-run-in-newsom-recall-1369616

[Miguelito Loveless]

3. My major bone of contention with Newsome

is his continued friendliness with oil companies.