“The Sage from South Central,” nationally syndicated talk radio host Larry Elder opens his daily radio show with, “We’ve got a country to save!”
Elder announced Monday he is running for California Governor in the Recall Election of Gov. Gavin Newsom. These days Elder says, “We’ve got a state to save!” #WeveGotAStateToSave
“Months ago I was asked to run for governor by radio host Dennis Prager, and I said ‘Hell No,'” Elder said Monday. “But then more people, and more people and more people I respect asked me to do it.”
“I’ve never run for public office before,” Elder said. “Wait… I did run for class president in 5th grade.”
Elder told about how his parents who moved to California years ago and raised their three boys on his father’s janitor’s salary, and his mom was a stay-at-home-mom. Elder said it cannot be done today because California is so expensive.
He lamented as a child the mediocre public school he attended, and his mother said they could not afford to send him to a better school, but someday he cold grow up and do something about it.
“That someday is here,” Elder said. “I am running for Governor of California.”
He announced his campaign website: electelder.com “He does not have campaign restrictions, but I do,” Elder said, explaining that he’s going to need a lot of campaign contributions if he’s going to win and oust Gavin Newsom.
“The California Recall is set for September 14th. It’s a two-step deal: 1) Do you want Gavin Newsom recalled, and 2) Whom do you want to replace him? More on this…” Elder said when he opened his show last week, leaving listeners hanging.
Elder has made no secret of his support for recalling “this arrogant Democrat Governor,” Gavin Newsom, while asserting Newsom does practically everything to avoid a recall.
“Governor Gavin Newsom… lunching at the French Laundry… this guy’s got to go!” Elder said in a short video last week thanking listeners for their overwhelming support as he was considering running, in his regular #RobeRage video.
“This man currently in office, imposed the most draconian lockdown measures than any other state in the union, to the point where one-third of California businesses will never reopen. One-third.” Elder said on his show. “The other things Gavin Newsom did have absolutely nothing to do with science.”
Elder says 75% of California’s black students cannot read at grade level. About this issue and many others, Elder has talked for 30 years, issues inherent to Democrat rule in the downfall of California: high taxes, failing public schools, water needs, debt and spending, ignoring infrastructure needs, undermining the rule of law, high crime, the homeless epidemic, drug addiction, spike in crime, Gov. Newsom’s release of thousands of prisoners, the “defund the police” movement, “paying meth addicts not to smoke meth,” and many others.
“This is idiotic. But this is what they do in this state,” Elder said Monday.
“Everything Newsom Does in California is to Avoid Recall:” Elder criticizes Newsom daily for nutty policy actions such as in January the governor and Legislature approved $2.6 billion in rental assistance but has only released $61.6 million – less than 5%. “This is nuts!” Elder said.
“I’m holding in my baby brown Libertarian fingers this LA Times headline: ‘California set to extend eviction protections, pay 100% of back rent,'” Elder said recently.
“For those of you outside of California, everything is done in the context of the recall election, because there is going to be a recall election” Elder said.
“All of a sudden, renters are getting free money!”
“The state is worse off than I thought. Bill Jones says we have water infrastructure in this state to support 20 million, in a state of 40 million,” Elder said of his recent interview with former California Secretary of State Bill Jones. Underground storage is one solution Elder and Jones discussed, but he said he alone can’t fix the water infrastructure immediately.
The SEIU union poured $5 million into the anti-recall side, Elder said Monday. “They’re going to come after me with a vengeance.” Elder said he has “no hope in hell of winning unless hundreds of thousands of you step up and help with funding.”
Elder is an attorney and his radio talk show is based in Southern California. Elder coined the phrase “victicrat,” (as in ‘no victicrats allowed’) someone who lives by a theology of victimization, who blames all ills, problems, concerns, and unhappiness on others. He is also a producer and writer, known for Uncle Tom (2020), Uncle Tom: Part II (2021), and The Larry Elder Podcast (2016), according to his IMDB profile.
Elder, who has 876,900 Twitter followers in addition to his national radio show, would most likely attract significant national campaign contributions, as well as fired up California conservatives and Trump supporters. He may be the “celebrity” naysayers have been saying is needed to win in the recall.
From his campaign website:
Why I’m Running
I’m running for Governor because the decline of California isn’t the fault of its people. Our government is what’s ruining the Golden State. Our schools are closed to both students and their parents. Our streets aren’t safe from rising violent crime or the disaster of rising homelessness. And the scandals of Sacramento aren’t going to stop on their own. It’s time to tell the truth. We’ve got a state to save.
Your Globe editor moderated a panel talk with Larry Elder and AM1380 THEANSWER Sacramento radio host Phil Cowan in 2018.
View Comments (55)
You’ve got my vote! I used to listen to you years ago on my way home late from work! Always impressed with your values! Go Larry Elder!
Larry is the best candidate. He is the only public figure who talks about all of the issues of California, the closing of schools and youth activities, the turmoil for parents and children as a result, the shutting down of family/main street businesses, the power outages and shutting down of natural gas power plants, the lack of support for a middle of the road solution to water storage, utilizing aquifiers, the defund the police mentality when most police departments practice community policing and engage with the community going back 20 years, the homeless issue and practical solutions that are fair and respectful, and worst of all, the One Party State dominance, particularly, utizing PG&E as a piggy bank, diverting funds for gas and power line maintenance resulting in wildfires and gas explosions in neigborhoods in San Bruno and Fresno, to pay 7% dividends to fund bankrupt public employee pensions.
John - Excellent and most complete listing of California issues. If you don’t mind, I’d like to borrow your list. I’ll trademark it for you! ™️
larry is an idiot. Y Dennis didn't RUNNNN Because: It's gonna look bad When I and Millions of Black families get out and VOTE....... WE WILL VOTE NO ON THE RECALL. We will leave the 2nd question blank because: we won't vote yes. yes.
Praise God, thank you Larry Elder.
Praying for God's blessings upon you and your campaign. Lord we are in it to WIN. Amen
Yes, run! Save Ca. I will vote for you! Hope you can’t get bought
I have listened to Larry’s show for 30 years, read a number of his books, and learned from him about conservative principles, economics, and character. He is a really good guy, one of the most principled people I have ever known. He has never sought political office before. But, at this time, he said yesterday he feels a moral and spiritual obligation to do what he can to save our broken California.
Here is a solid conservative candidate I can get excited about! Run Larry, Run!
Elder is smart, articulate, and would make a great governor...I think it's time that we elected someone who speaks for the majority of the citizens of California and who knows how to get this state back to where we need to be --back to being number 1!
And who understands and who could actually teach an economic class.
WOW, splitting more Republican votes. I like Larry, I just sure hope this goes well and Newsom is out of office.
First we need enough votes to oust Newsom, which is 50% plus one vote.
Thank God! A solid conservative choice! Phew!
I have been a listener for years, Larry is what California needs he is educated, smart and wise, let me know how I can help get this great man elected!
I can't help it, I have a spring in my step with Larry Elder's entry. I feel as though I've known him FOREVER, ever since I first heard him, a new voice on the radio, and he did a riff on Johnny Cochran during the Simpson trial. It was very funny (he briefly did some stand-up comedy before the radio gig as I recall) and broke the tension. So now we have a chance to see how the front-runners campaign and we'll see how it goes. It's been awhile since that has happened!
Showandtell, I want to see Larry Elder debate Newsom. But in the past Newsom avoided the debates except for the last one where he got mopped on the floor. He can't avoid this one, and the voters would see what a phony Newsom is. If you can tune into Phil Cowan's show Wednesday at 8:00 am on AM 1380 TheAnswer as he always has Katy Grimes on at that time. Don't leave town! GO LARRY!
Thanks for the tip, John. Making a note to tune in (listen online) to Phil Cowan and guest Katy Grimes on Wed morning.
Phil Cowan is a great morning show in Sac
Go Larry Elder...you got my whole family's vote --- I just hope Dominion machines are not set up for newsom, am sure newsom is looking at that angle now.
he won't have my Black vote or sure. Newsom is good great and greatest.
He got my vote, fantastic human being..