California Gov. Gavin Newsom to face recall election [View all]

[Omaha Steve]

Source: CNN

By Alexandra Meeks and Paul LeBlanc,

(CNN)California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom will face a recall election, marking just the second time in state history that a special election will be held to recall a sitting governor.

State officials confirmed Wednesday that a recall election will proceed after just 43 people withdrew their signatures from petitions to recall the governor during a 30-day window required by state law.

As a result, California's Department of Finance will now begin estimating the costs of the recall -- including costs of holding it as a special election or as part of the next regularly scheduled election -- which will then be submitted to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the secretary of state and the chairperson of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee by August 5, according to a letter outlining the process from California Secretary of State Shirley Weber. A spokesperson for California's Department of Finance previously told CNN the recall would cost about $215.2 million. A date has not yet been set.

The recall drive has been fueled by anger over the restrictions Newsom put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19 throughout last year and during an alarming surge in cases in California during the winter holiday months.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/23/politics/gavin-newsom-recall-election-california/index.html