New effort to recall Gov. Newsom now underway following LA fires

Following the Southern California wildfires, a new effort to recall Governor Gavin Newsom has been launched. 

The recall effort is being led by a group named ‘SavingCalifornia.vote’ who say Newsom's mismanagement helped fuel the destructive and deadly LA County wildfires. 

The group started the formal and legal process on Thursday by collecting the 50 co-sponsor signatures needed for the petition. It will then be submitted to the California Secretary of State to verify signatures and proceed to the second step in the recall effort. If approved, a special election would be held. 

Since 2019, there have been eight attempts to recall Newsom and only one of those attempts made it onto the ballot when conservative radio host Larry Elder entered the race in 2021. However, Newsom claimed victory

Organizers of Saving California say this time they hope to succeed given everything that has happened in the state from the wildfires to crime.

RELATED: 125K sign petition demanding LA Mayor Karen Bass resign over fire response

"I think it's a different type of Gavin Newsom now. I think last time he had an approval rating of about 53%, he's down in the low 20s now. And I think that makes a big difference," said Randy Economy, Chairman of Saving California.

Economy told FOX 11 that Newsom has had a lack of leadership over the past several months and the state could have taken better measures to prevent the wildfires. 

"What really was the catalyst of this was the fires. We've been planning this for some time because we can not have another two years of Gavin Newsom's Draconian laws imposed on us," James Bradley, former Senate candidate and board member of the recall effort said. 

"So, Gavin Newsom, while he didn't light the fires, he set a fire and I think that's the main thing as far as politics is concerned," Economy added. 

Economy said it is a bipartisan effort to recall the governor. 

"I don't care about the Republican Party or the Democratic Party. I care about the people and I think the people are going to be the driving force to make this a thing and get it on the ballot and make it successful," Economy added. 

In the wake of the apparent recall push, Newsom's office issued the following statement:

"Governor Newsom is focused on the fires and marshalling resources for the extensive recovery - not politics. 

Readers still should have the context that the same group of far right Trump acolytes have launched 7 different recall attempts against the governor since he’s taken office, each of which have failed spectacularly. 

Even Republican Party leaders have criticized these repeated attempts as a brazen campaign finance 'grift,' and the recall organizers have been sued by their own donors for pocketing funds raised previously. For example, they didn’t even turn in a single signature in their last attempt."

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Newsom's current term for governor ends in 2026, and he is unable to run again due to term limits. 

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