Newsom Recall Campaign Hits Nearly 1.7 Million Signatures

On Wednesday, the California Patriot Coalition/Recall Gavin Newsom 2020 announced that 1,689,000 signatures had been gathered for the Governor Gavin Newsom recall petition.

The recall campaign’s collection pace accelerated quickly during the past week, bringing in nearly 200,000 signatures in only six days. The weekly total shattered previous weekly signature gathering records of just over 100,000 a week that had only been set earlier this month.

With the newest figures, the Newsom recall campaign is now on the signature gathering pace made against then-Governor Gray Davis in 2003. That year, 1.3 million signatures were gathered despite the number needed for a recall being 897,000. The 2021 campaign is keeping up for a similar final percentage of extra signatures as it is on pace to reach at least 2 million signatures by the March 10th deadline despite needing only 1.495 million. While the 2021 campaign is benefitting from an extra month of signature gathering due to an extension given by the state and a greater online presence when compared to the 2003 campaign, the 2021 campaign has also been hindered by having fewer outdoor recall petitioners collecting signatures outside of stores and going from door-to-door due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a scene of which had permeated the 2003 campaign, as well as President Joe Biden himself denouncing the campaign.

Both the 2003 campaign and the 2021 campaign set a goal of getting several hundred thousand more signatures than needed, as reserve to replace any signatures deemed invalid by the Secretary of State.

The new 1.689 million signature figure was celebrated by recall supporters and organizers Wednesday night during an online meeting. Campaign leaders specifically noted the efforts of signature collection volunteers throughout the state.

“During the past several days, thousands of volunteers have hit the streets to help collect tens of thousands of additional signatures to force Governor Newsom into a recall campaign,” stated Chairman of the California Patriot Coalition – Recall Gavin 2020 Committee Orrin Heatlie. “The people are being heard loud and clear; however, our job as a campaign is not done yet.”

“We’re not done yet”

In an interview with the California Globe, Senior Advisor and Official Spokesman of the California Patriot Coalition – Recall Gavin Newsom 2020 Committee, Randy Economy, said that the large numbers of signatures being collected have been a testament to the power of grassroots efforts.

“It’s a historical moment not only in California, but in political grassroots,” Economy told the Globe. “The more that you say that they can’t do it, the more people will do to get it done. You can’t underestimate the power of the people. You can’t underestimate grassroots. We lost that in California in the last few decades and in the last few generations, but now we’re seeing it happen again. Newsom isn’t ignoring us anymore.”

“And we’re not done yet.”

The rising number of signatures and the impending recall election triggered by the recall movement also had an effect on declared candidates in recent days. Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has been giving an increasing number of speeches, while 2018 Republican Gubernatorial candidate John Cox added another $1 million of his own dollars into his campaign.

Speculation over other candidates joining the recall race, such as former Ambassador Richard Grenell, has also grown following new recall petition announcements this week.

“They need to remember that, if it wasn’t for us and or movement, they wouldn’t be in this position now,” added Economy. “They shouldn’t forget we have done the heavy lifting by collecting these signatures and be appreciative of our effort. We made this possible.”

The petition to recall Governor Newsom needs 1.495 million valid signatures of Californian voters by March 17th. The campaign has set an internal deadline of March 10th with a current goal of 2 million signatures.