New poll shows most voters oppose recalling California Governor Newsom as pandemic optimism rises

A majority of California voters approve of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly 60 percent saying they would not remove him in a recall election, according to a new poll.

While nearly six in 10 voters said they would vote to keep Newsom in office, 40% said they would vote to remove him, according to the poll results released Tuesday by the Public Policy Institute of California, a nonpartisan, nonprofit think thank.

Newsom also has the majority of voters approving his job as governor, with 64 percent saying they approve of his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the poll by the San Francisco-based group.

The recall effort, which started as a petition drive, was largely sparked of Newsom's handling of the pandemic, which included strict virus health-safety mandates and the governor failing to follow one about going to restaurants. The state's high taxes and lack of affordable house are also issues.

"Everything is pointing in the direction of much more optimism about Covid and the economy and California," PPIC President and CEO Mark Baldassare said, according to Politico.

The questions of whether Newsom should be recalled and who will replace him will be put on a voter ballot, perhaps as early as November.