Mary Murphy 

Managing Editor 

mem6812@psu.edu

An upcoming recall election aims to unseat California’s current Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom. Voters in this election will be asked two questions—should governor Newsom be recalled and if so, who should take his place? If a majority answers yes to the first question, the role of governor will fall to the recall candidate that got the most votes, no majority required. 

I find Governor Newsom’s potential recall concerning for a plethora of reasons. Firstly, the process by which the recall is conducted is undemocratic in nature. Potentially inducting a governor that doesn’t earn a majority vote is problematic for obvious reasons, the primary being that it doesn’t represent the will of the people. That’s not to mention the fact that only participants in the off-season recall election–which will likely have a much lower turnout than other elections–would have a voice in the new governor placement. 

Additionally, many of the frontrunner new governor candidates are known for their right-wing extremism and in a state as historically democratic as California, the election of any of these candidates could permanently change the state’s political trajectory. 

Another major concern I have is the apathy toward this election. Many aren’t fully aware of the stakes of its outcome. The thought of the governorship of California being flipped from blue to red should terrify any and every democrat. Unfortunately, these fears would not be unfounded. A failure to fully comprehend the recall process could lead to voters electing to displace Newsom and leaving the question of who should replace him blank. Once again, this would not only undermine the democratic process by allowing a fragment of the population to elect an official but it would open the door for right-wing fanatics to overtake Newsom. 

I find the way this process operates to be endlessly frustrating. I am wholeheartedly in favor of holding politicians accountable, in fact, I emphatically support it. That being said, this recall doesn’t appear to be an earnest attempt at accountability but rather a partisan power grab. Certainly, there may be legitimate and warranted criticism of Governor Newsom and Californians have every right to voice that condemnation. However, they can just as easily displace him in the next scheduled governor election rather than participating in a nonsensical and erratic recall process.

Needless to say, this election has me unnerved. Emblematic of the larger tide of extremist politics, the recall of Newsom proves that there are no conventions republicans won’t undermine to enhance their political power. I certainly hope that the citizens of California recognize the gravity of this situation and make an informed and thoughtful decision, one that will be to the benefit of all Californians rather than a select few.