NewsCalifornia News

Actions

Democrats could reform 'weaponized' California recall system

California Recall Reforms
Posted
and last updated

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Hours after California Gov. Gavin Newsom beat back a recall election that could have removed him, his fellow Democrats in the state Legislature said they will seek changes to make it more difficult to challenge a sitting governor.

Newsom said Wednesday that the recall process has been “weaponized.”

Those reforms could include raising the standard to require wrongdoing on the part of the officeholder, increasing the number of signatures needed to force a recall election, and changing the process that could permit someone with a small percentage of votes to replace the state’s top elected official.

Republicans say they will seek to ensure the proposals protect voters’ ability to hold politicians accountable.

Newsom on Tuesday became only the second governor in U.S. history to defeat a recall. The decisive victory ensures that the nation’s most populous state remains a laboratory for progressive policies.

Sign up for our Morning E-mail Newsletter to receive the latest headlines in your inbox.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Saturday

11/01/2025

Sunny

81° / 55°

2%

Sunday

11/02/2025

Sunny

80° / 54°

4%

Monday

11/03/2025

Mostly Sunny

81° / 54°

1%

Tuesday

11/04/2025

Sunny

79° / 54°

2%

Wednesday

11/05/2025

Mostly Sunny

76° / 56°

0%

Thursday

11/06/2025

Partly Cloudy

70° / 53°

12%

Friday

11/07/2025

Sunny

71° / 52°

5%

Saturday

11/08/2025

Mostly Sunny

74° / 54°

4%