Who is running for governor of california

Ballots will start going out next month in the mail, and the official election date is Sept. He left the office in , and referencing his prior role would help boost his name identification.

No Democrat with political stature decided to run. Polls have shown Newsom well positioned to win. But should he lose in an upset, there would be no established Democrat among replacement candidates, potentially opening the way for a Republican to take the seat. Voters will be sent a ballot with two questions: Should Newsom be recalled, and who should replace him. More Videos Democratic support for California Gov.

Newsom dwindling The candidates have two weeks left to convince voters to boot Newsom out of office and choose them as a replacement. These are Newsom's most notable challengers:.

John Cox. Read More. Cox, a San Diego businessman, has been successful in generating headlines, including when he was served with a subpoena while onstage during the August 17 debate. Cox opposes California's Covid vaccine mandates and mask requirements.

During a debate early in August, he called Newsom's handling of the pandemic "an absolute disaster" that "resulted in far more danger and far more problems. His plan to end California's homelessness problem is to force the state's unhoused population to receive mental health and addiction treatment before being provided housing.

Larry Elder. Since entering the race in April , Jenner has trailed other candidates in polling despite her name recognition. She launched a bus tour Thursday focused on immigration. Cox lost to Newsom by over 23 points in the race for governor, though his campaign argues his statewide name recognition and conservative credentials gained from his previous race will help in the current election.

Faulconer has positioned himself as the more centrist candidate — often pointing to his election as a Republican mayor in San Diego, a historically Republican city that has trended Democratic since He made a public plea for citizens to get vaccinated during a recall debate in August, but says he doesn't favor state mandates. Kevin Paffrath, a year-old real estate investor who makes financial advice videos on YouTube, jumped into the recall race after seeing no notable Democratic candidate.

Why did they not pick another Democrat? A neutral JFK-style Democrat that can bring both sides together and actually solve the real problems? Whether a voter votes "yes" or "no" on the recall question, they are allowed to cast a vote for a potential replacement or leave that question blank.

California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks told CBS News that it's up to voters to decide if they want to pick a replacement even if they vote "no" on the recall question. Newsom and his allies are focused on that question. It's the only way to stop this Republican power grab," Hicks said. If Newsom is recalled, it would be the second time that California voters have recalled a governor.

Schwarzenegger went on to win a full term as governor in The memories of that race still sting Democrats. Hicks said because of the result, he's glad that there isn't a strong Democratic candidate challenging Newsom. In that election, then-Democratic Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante ran as a replacement candidate. The decisive win significantly bolsters Newsom's chances in next year's regularly scheduled gubernatorial elections, while weakening any likely Republican challengers, said Republican political strategist Mike Madrid.

Key to Newsom's success was an all-out campaign to mobilize a Democratic base that had initially been sleepy, assuming that the governor would win because the state is so overwhelmingly Democratic. He made the campaign a referendum on former Republican U. President Donald Trump, linking Trump with his main challenger in the recall election, Larry Elder, a Republican talk show host who had made controversial statements about minorities and women.

Malia Cohen, an elected member of the California Board of Equalization who spent the last several days campaigning to raise turnout among African American voters, said the effort was key to the campaign's success.

California Governor Gavin Newsom makes an appearance after the polls close on the recall election, at the California Democratic Party headquarters in Sacramento, California, U.