CA Recall: Kevin Kiley Steps In As New Challenger To Newsom

CALIFORNIA — A particularly outspoken critic of Gov. Gavin Newsom, Republican Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, officially entered the race to unseat the Democratic governor this week.

Kiley, 36, previously hinted at the idea of running in the upcoming recall election. On Tuesday, he made it official and announced his candidacy for the Sept. 14 election.

"Over the next 70 days, I’ll fight in every way I can to get our movement across the finish line. We’re in it to win," he said in a blog post.

The Rocklin-based assemblymember is one of Newsom's loudest critics on Twitter and elicits more reactions and retweets from users than most of the governor's opponents. In his online posts and media appearances over the last 15 months, Kiley has consistently lambasted the governor for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and for his use of executive orders.

Kiley and Assemblymember James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) sued in November to restrict the governor from issuing more directives that "amend, alter or change" state laws, a move backed by State Superior Court Judge Sarah Heckman, who issued a permanent injunction to prevent Newsom from enforcing such directives.

Recently, Kiley was especially vocal about Newsom's lawsuit against California Secretary of State Shirley Weber over a paperwork blunder that would put the governor's name on the ballot without a party designation.

"Crazily, Newsom’s team messed up the paperwork so he won’t appear as a Democrat on the Recall ballot. He’s now suing his handpicked Secretary of State to reclaim his cherished partisan label," Kiley tweeted on June 28, a post that was retweeted more than 4,400 times.

Newsom has pushed back against the effort to oust him from office, painting the campaign as one backed by extremists and supporters of former President Donald Trump.

"I won't be distracted by this partisan, Republican recall — but I will fight it," Newsom said in mid-March. "There is too much at stake."

"Gavin Newsom isn't being recalled because's he's a liberal," Kiley argued on Twitter last month. "He's being recalled because he's a phony. He mouths 'progressive' platitudes while selling his office to the highest bidder."

Unofficially, eight candidates have expressed interest in running in the recall election. But it's unclear what the final ballot will look like. Kiley will likely appear on the ballot alongside Republican hopefuls Caitlyn Jenner, John Cox, Kevin Faulconer, Doug Ose and Sam Gallucci. Celebrities Angelyne and Mary Carey have also said they are running.

No prominent Democrats have announced plans to run.

"Renewing the meaning of We the People: that’s what the Recall has been about from the beginning," Kiley wrote in a blog post on Tuesday. "It’s what our campaign will be about until the end. And it’s what the mission of the Governor’s Office will be every day that I serve."

Last week, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis set the recall date for Sept. 14. The announcement will likely set off a hectic nine weeks of campaigning in the Golden State.

In the same week, the state finance department released its final estimate for state and county costs to run the election: $276 million.

Democratic leaders of the state Legislature have proposed $215 million to be included in the state budget to cover costs related to the recall election.

What's A Recall?

California has had recall elections as part of its political system since 1911. The process allows the public to attempt to remove an elected public official from office before the end of his term. Before a recall election can be initiated, a certain number of voters must sign a recall petition within a specified amount of time.

The state has had 54 previous attempts to recall California governors. Only one governor has been recalled in California's history: Gray Davis in 2003.

READ MORE:

• Newsom Recall Election Date Set
• CA Recall Election: Who Is Running?
• Newsom Recall Election Officially Happening: What To Know
• A Serious Man: Can Kevin Faulconer Run For Governor Without The Gimmicks?
• CA Democrats Propose $215M To Expedite Newsom Recall Election
• Follow The Money: Gavin Newsom Recall Edition
• Total Recall: An Illustrated Guide To The Newsom Recall
• 36% Support Newsom Recall: UC Berkeley Poll