The recall effort against California Gov. Gavin Newsom is moving forward, and Newsom is facing difficult days ahead.

On Wednesday, supporters of the recall effort said they submitted 2,117,730 signatures by the day’s deadline, a number that would appear to easily qualify for the threshold needed.

“Well, the reality is it looks like it’s going on the ballot, and so we’re ready to go,” Newsom said of the recall effort at a news conference Tuesday. “We will fight it. We will defeat it.”

According to a Politico story, Democrats are expected to plunge some serious capital on Newsom’s behalf – likely well over $100 million — in one of the nation’s bluest states.

Other candidates in the recall race include former Rep. Doug Ose, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and 2018 GOP candidate for governor John Cox.

Under state law, the recall ballot will ask voters two questions: Do they want to recall Newsom, and if so, whom do they want to replace him.

It’s heading for a drawn-out process, according to Secretary of State Shirley Weber’s office. 

  • The state elections chief will have until May 9 to notify counties that the election has qualified.
  • Voters then have the opportunity to withdraw their signatures from May 10-June 21.
  • Counties then have until July 6 to notify Weber if there are still sufficient signatures. 
  • The state Department of Finance will then have from July 6 to Aug. 17 to analyze recall costs.
  • The state legislature will have until Sept. 16 to weigh in on those costs and budget for the recall.

Weber’s office then would certify signatures Sept. 17, the same day Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis would declare the actual date of the election.

Experts say the election likely will be somewhere from October to late November.

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