For the first time in the history of California and only the second time in U.S. history, a recall vote will take place that could oust a sitting governor.
 California Gov. Gray Davis |
Secretary of State Kevin Shelley announced more than 1.3 million signatures “have been found to be valid,” exceeding the minimum of 897,158 needed to force the vote on the fate of Democrat Gray Davis. Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante announced today the recall election will be held Oct. 7, giving his fellow Democrat the maximum number of days to fight for his political life.
“The challenges are profound,” Shelley said. “This could very well be one of the most important ballots our citizens ever cast.”
It was less than a year ago that Davis defeated Republican businessman Bill Simon to win re-election to the state’s top job, but his popularity has been nosediving recently due to California’s sluggish economy, $38 billion deficit and energy woes.
As WorldNetDaily reported, Californians fed up with the second-term Democrat took to the Internet to express their disgust, as the official website dedicated to a recall campaign collected thousands of supporters’ names.
They’re now planning a recall rally this Saturday at the State Capitol in Sacramento.
“We’ve accomplished a great deal by collecting enough signatures to qualify the first recall election against a statewide elected official in California history,” says the website. “But we have a lot of hard work ahead of us to ensure the YES on RECALL campaign succeeds.”
The governor’s approval ratings hit a new low in June, as 64 percent of state residents and 75 percent of likely voters stating they disapproved of his job performance.
Davis remains defiant and says he’ll fight the ouster, labeling the move “a hostile takeover by the right.”
“In a strange way, this has got my juices flowing,” Davis told the Associated Press. “I’m a fighter.”
Thus far, only Rep. Darrell Issa, R- Calif., who bankrolled the removal effort has declared his intention to replace Davis, but names like state Sen. Tom McClintock, Bill Simon and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger are often mentioned as potential candidates.
“Arnold is discussing his candidacy with his family,” according to Schwarzenegger’s political adviser George Gorton. “He is weighing the pros and cons of a candidacy and has made no determination at this time as to whether he will run in a likely recall election, nor has he made a determination that he will not run.”
Meanwhile, the Drudge Report says sources close to Schwarzenegger indicate the actor will not run for governor, “citing family concerns.”
There have been 31 previous attempts to oust governors since Californians gave themselves the power by amending the state Constitution in 1911, but none have ever made it to the ballot until now.
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