California Recall Election

Gov. Gavin Newsom survived a historic recall election Tuesday, winning a major vote of confidence. Voters overwhelmingly rejected the Republican-led effort to replace him.

In politics, as in life, numbers don’t lie. And early on election night, it was clear that things simply didn’t add up for supporters of removing Gov. Gavin Newsom from office.

Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It’s Friday, Sept. 17.

Gov. Gavin Newsom survived the recall attempt by a big margin, and that has led some to question whether the system works and if changes are needed.

Columnist George Skelton writes that Newsom’s landslide victory proved what most already knew: No Trump-supporting conservative can win statewide office in liberal-leaning California.

The recall campaign against Gov. Gavin Newsom was supposed to unify California Republicans. Instead, it deepened divisions between the party’s grass-roots conservatives and moderate establishment.

Larry Elder wanted to reverse mask and vaccine mandates and supports a $0 minimum wage. Does the GOP really see this as a winning message?

More than 9 million recall ballots have been counted out of an estimated 13 million cast — enough for Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare victory.

With a Black standard-bearer who can’t talk coherently about racism, Republicans aren’t likely to win statewide elections in California anytime soon.