Just Vote NO!
by Glenna Sansone
You will soon (if not already) be receiving a ballot in your mail on which you will be asked whether to recall our Governor, Gavin Newsom. I want to discuss this matter with you. I could just send you a bumper sticker – JUST VOTE NO! – but I want to give you some reasoning because the amount of misinformation I have seen and heard is astonishing.
Some of you may conclude that because California is a “blue” state you need not worry about this recall. Some of you may be satisfied with Newsom’s record as governor and feel no need to vote. Some of you may want Newsom out of office and feel this is the best way to get rid of him. You would be wrong on all of these points.
First, this recall election has been structured and timed to take full advantage of Democrats’ apathy. It is not an election year and it is not happening in a typical election month. The proponents of the recall know that because Democrats in California have a huge voter registration advantage, the only way Republicans can win a state-wide election is by energizing their small base when Democrat turnout is likely to be small. And they are right! That is why we need all hands on deck to fight this recall! We need every registered Democrat to VOTE NO!
Second, yes, our Governor Gavin Newsom has had a solid record as a strong leader in what can only be described as the most difficult times. In keeping this email brief, I refer you to this up-to-date report card put together by CalMatters, a nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters. If you support all that Newsom has accomplished in keeping us safe and thriving during the pandemic and economic turn-down VOTE NO! https://calmatters.org/explainers/newsom-recall-report-card/
Finally, for those of you dissatisfied with Governor Newsom, I still urge you to VOTE NO. The California recall and initiative system is a broken mess. On every ballot, we are asked to decipher the legalese our elected representatives should be tackling. And this recall, which is costing the state $276 million, is completely unnecessary when Newsom will be on the ballot for re-election next year anyway. It is wrong by going against our own state constitution, in that the removal of the governor will not allow the lieutenant governor to assume the office. Furthermore, it unconstitutionally defies the “one-person/one-vote principle that is a core policy of our democracy. Read this, from the Dean of the U.C. Berkeley law school: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/11/opinion/california-recall-election-newsom.html
If you still need some convincing why you should VOTE NO consider:
- a yes vote will put Trump’s Republicans in charge of California.
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A GOP Governor would appoint a GOP Senator should one of ours have to step down. Feinstein is 88 years old.
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Governor Newsom is likely to sign almost every progressive bill passed by the Democratic-controlled legislature; a Republican replacement will not.
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Governor Newsom will continue to fight to limit the spread of COVID; a Republican replacement will pander to anti-vaxxers and put us all at greater risk.
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consider these other points made by CalMatters https://calmatters.org/commentary/2021/08/newsom-recall-could-change-balance-of-power-in-u-s-senate/
To conclude, there are two issues on the recall ballot, one totally independent of the other. You may choose to VOTE NO and ONLY NO, without voting on the second issue of a replacement candidate. If you only VOTE NO and leave the rest blank, your ballot will still count. In fact, the California Democrat Party and Governor Newsom urge you to do just that. There are no legitimate, party-backed Democrats running. There is no “what-if” candidate. We must assure this recall will fail!
The last day to register to vote in this election is August 30.