Saving California, a new nonpartisan coalition, announced the launch of a recall campaign against Gov. Gavin Newsom, who survived a recall campaign in 2021 before being reelected to a second term in 2022.
"Under the reign of Governor Newsom, living in California has become impossible for average people through years of poor policies which have increased the costs of living, increased crime, increased drug use and homelessness, increased the cost of burden on small businesses and communities, while decreasing our professional standards, education standards, the disappearance of billions of taxpayers' dollars to failed pet programs, and our public services," Randy Economy, the man behind the recall, said in a statement.
Economy also blasted Newsom for his handling of the current Los Angeles wildfire crisis, saying the response has been "woefully unprepared" and "incompetent."
"Gov. Newsom was asked, 'What is your plan to deal with the lack of water to deal with the fires?' and he responded by saying, 'Local folks are gonna figure it out.' That's not leadership," Economy said. "Leadership is solving problems, not passing the buck and the blame, and Californians can no longer afford to have an empty suit occupying the governorship. It's time for Californians to take back control of our mismanaged government, and using the recall tool is our last hope."
In an interview with Newsweek, Economy said the group planned to recall Newsom before the wildfires, but the crisis "shortened our time frame and changed things."
Saving California said it plans to serve Newsom recall papers within the next two weeks.
A spokesman for Newsom dismissed the recall effort in a statement to the New York Post, saying the governor was focused on the fires, not politics.
"The same group of far-right Trump acolytes have launched six different recall attempts against the governor since he's taken office, each of which have failed spectacularly," Nathan Click said in a statement. "Even Republican Party leaders have criticized these repeated attempts as a brazen campaign finance 'grift,' and the recall organizers have been sued by their own donors for pocketing funds raised previously."