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GRAY DAVIS

Column: National Republicans have gone all in on the Newsom recall. They’re doing him a big favor

In 2003, amid California’s tumultuous gubernatorial recall election, President George W. Bush visited the state and had this to say about the campaign: Nothing. “And I’m looking forward, like you are, to seeing the outcome.”The Republican National Committee kept similarly mum throughout the campaign, which ended in Democrat Gray Davis’ ouster and replacement by Hollywood super-duper-star Arnold Schwarzenegger. AdvertisementBut the conspicuous lack of engagement by the administration and national Republican leaders “made it impossible to credibly sell that argument,” said Garry South, a former Davis strategist. “People went through the motions in 2003, but there wasn’t that passion among Democrats” to fight the recall effort, said South. One bill in particular — a law giving driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants — was highly unpopular among the broader electorate and helped lead to Davis’ recall.

latimes.com

EXPLAINER: Why is California Gov. Newsom facing a recall?

Newsom is facing the possibility that he could be removed by voters in a recall election later this year, in the midst of his four-year term. Gavin Newsom is facing the possibility that he could be removed by voters in a recall election in the midst of his four-year term. Here’s how it works:WHAT IS A RECALL ELECTION? Unpopular Democratic Gov. The second question would be a list of replacement candidates to choose from, if voters recall the governor.

Former GOP Rep. Doug Ose enters California recall election

FILE - In this Oct. 8, 2014, file photo Republican Doug Ose speaks during a debate in Sacramento, Calif. Ose says he's entering the recall election aimed at ousting Democratic Gov. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)LOS ANGELES – Former Republican congressman Doug Ose announced Tuesday he’s entering the recall election aimed at ousting California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a day after the Democratic governor began raising money to defend his seat in a likely election this year. There were 135 on the ballot in the state's 2003 recall election that removed former Democratic Gov. So far, no prominent Democrat has entered the recall election.

GOP infighting in post-Trump era threatens California recall

(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)LOS ANGELES – California Republicans eager to recall Democratic Gov. The head of the state Republican Party, Jessica Millan Patterson, is being challenged at a GOP convention this weekend by longtime conservative activist Steve Frank, who says the state party is attempting to silence conservative voices. Ad“This is California’s version of the national battle for the soul and the future of the Republican Party,” said Thad Kousser, a political science professor at the University of California, San Diego. But “just when the Republican Party in California is showing signs of life, it’s deciding to cannibalize itself,” Kousser added. For long-suffering California Republicans, party infighting could divide their ranks and make it more challenging to oust Newsom.

Hustler founder and First Amendment battler Larry Flynt dies

FILE - "Hustler" Magazine publisher Larry Flynt signs a copy of "The People Vs. Larry Flynt" in his downtown Cincinnati "Hustler" store on April 30, 1998. Flynt, who turned "Hustler" magazine into an adult entertainment empire while championing First Amendment rights, has died at age 78. His nephew, Jimmy Flynt Jr., told The Associated Press that Flynt died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, of heart failure at his Hollywood Hills home in Los Angeles. In an effort to drum up business, he published a newsletter that became Hustler magazine. He and his fourth wife, Althea, moved to Los Angeles and spent most of their time behind their mansion’s 5,000-pound steel door.

Political storms swirl around California's Newsom amid virus

Gavin Newsom has gone from a governor in command to one lurching from one political crisis to the next. Some Democrats are now starting to whisper about the need for a backup plan should voters decide the first-term governor needs to go. Newsom last week called the idea that he's making decisions based on politics “nonsense," but he's otherwise sidestepped commenting on the recall. Gray Davis, for lessons as they debate whether its worth standing behind Newsom or finding an alternative. Dan Newman, Newsom's political strategist, said he's not worried about the party turning on Newsom and that facing the ire of voters is part of the job.

California Democrats see backlash after recall 'coup' claims

State Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks led a group of Democratic officials who described the effort to remove Newsom as a coup and claimed, without evidence, that those involved were far-right extremists. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, Pool, File)LOS ANGELES – California Republicans on Wednesday seized on a bungled Democratic attempt to link the proposed recall of Gov. The criticism came as the Republican Party of Orange County launched a new round of fundraising appeals for the recall, saying Democrats were attempting to enflame political tensions at a time of national strife. “Linking a legal and constitutionally appropriate (California) recall attempt to the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and ongoing coup attempt is worse than a bad PR call. Unlike a coup, typically a violent and illegal attempt to seize power, recall elections are authorized under state law.

California governor taps new senior staff amid tough stretch

Myers, a former press secretary to President Bill Clinton, became a senior adviser to California Gov. She joins Jim DeBoo, a California consultant well-versed in the quirks of the state capital and statewide political campaigns, as a senior adviser to the governor. Beyond Myers, Newsom's new additions include DeBoo as senior adviser, making official on Jan. 1 a role he has informally held. Observers say adding him to Newsom's staff signals a desire for sharper political thinking and better connections with the state Legislature, but it could raise questions about special interests' access to the governor. Angie Wei, a Newsom adviser and former chief of staff for the California Labor Federation, is his new legislative affairs secretary.

California governor demands probe of power blackouts

The governor warned that customers could again lose power as early as 3 p.m. Monday as spiking temperatures strain the state's power grid. The situation we are in could have been avoided.The state Public Utilities Commission did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The ISO instituted a second, but shorter, rolling outage Saturday evening that cut power to more than 200,000 customers. The last time a California governor faced power outages, he was successfully recalled. California also still faces the threat of power outages to prevent wildfires.

Joe Biden nears final decision on running mate

WASHINGTON As Joe Biden nears the announcement of his vice presidential choice, the top contenders and their advocates are making final appeals. As Biden prepares to make his choice, a committee established to vet possible running mates has provided him with briefing materials. The selection amounts to the most significant choice Biden has confronted in his nearly five-decade political career. On Friday night, Biden held a virtual fundraiser with Elizabeth Warren, who has also been considered as a running mate. The two talked for nearly an hour but did not mention the vice presidential selection process.

Joe Biden's search for a running mate enters final stretch

WASHINGTON As Joe Biden nears the announcement of his vice presidential choice, the top contenders and their advocates are making final appeals. Bill Richardson, who was vetted for vice president in 2008. The selection amounts to the most significant choice Biden has confronted in his nearly five-decade political career. On Friday night, Biden held a virtual fundraiser with Elizabeth Warren, who has also been considered as a running mate. The two talked for nearly an hour but did not mention the vice presidential selection process.

Ex-California governor predicts state can turn around wildfire crisis in less than two years

California could turn around its wildfire crisis "in the next 18 months," said Democrat Gray Davis, governor of the state from 1999 to 2003. "But it won't happen without acknowledging everybody has some part of the blame to bear," Davis told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Thursday, while calling for a state wildfire summit. Wildfires have been ravaging California for the past week, with current Democratic governor Gavin Newsom declaring a statewide emergency as high winds spread flames. On Thursday, the dangerous winds were expected to linger for a final day as firefighters work to tamper the flames. This week, however, PG&E has drawn widespread condemnation for staging three fire-prevention blackouts, which cut power to millions customers.

cnbc.com