Newsom Faces Another Recall Effort, This Time Over Budget Deficit, Presidential Aspirations

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom could face another recall election in November if an effort to remove him gains enough signatures to get the measure on the ballot.

Rescue California, the group leading the recall effort over the state’s budget deficit and the governor’s national political ambitions, was set to serve Newsom with the paperwork Monday.

Some of the same conservative activists organized a similar recall effort in 2021, when he won reelection by 30 points over Republican Larry Elder, a radio host and former presidential candidate.

“Gavin Newsom has abandoned the state to advance his presidential ambitions, leaving behind a $73 billion budget deficit and a public safety, immigration and education crisis,” Orange County fundraiser Anne Dunsmore, who is the campaign director for Rescue California, told Politico.

Newsom has long been the subject of speculation regarding his presidential ambitions. He participated in a debate in November with Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis when he was still running for president.

“California needs a full-time governor who is fully focused on the serious problems the state and its citizens are facing,” Dunsmore continued. “This may be our last opportunity to rescue and restore our state, while we highlight for the rest of the country the destruction Newsom has left in his wake.”

He has already prevailed against four previous efforts.