Report: Newsom recall drive has enough signatures to trigger special election, if verified

Organizers say more than 1.5 million Californians have signed motion.

Published: February 13, 2021 3:30pm

Updated: February 15, 2021 12:05pm

The growing effort to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom has reportedly secured 1.5 million signatures, which, if authenticated, would be enough to trigger a special election, Fox News reported on Saturday.

The state secretary will have to process the signatures first to ensure they are valid. 

"Organizers are aiming for 2 million signatures by mid-March due to the verification process and the campaign is seeking a comfortable margin," Fox reported. "The group noted there was a 25% disqualification rate among signatures collected last time."

Newsom has faced extended criticism for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic—particularly his shutdown orders, which have at times been among the strictest in the nation—as well as a disastrous PR blunder last year when he was spotted mask-less and at a crowded dinner table in an indoor restaurant. 

The last California recall election took place in 2003; in that instance, Arnold Schwarzenegger successfully won the election after voters recalled Democratic Gov. Gray Davis. 

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