Voters were asked two questions: should Newsom be replaced, and if he is recalled, who out of his 46 opponents in the election should take his place? Data from the state of California shows that the recall cost taxpayers $276 million. The state says the money was budgeted for when the recall petition gained enough signatures to pass. Moreover, California state Legislative pushing for changes and hoping to make recalls more difficult. Fellow Democrats in the state Legislature said that they will push for changes to make it more difficult to challenge a sitting governor. Newsom’s victory is an endorsement of the Democratic leaders’ approach to fighting the pandemic. The vote is a resounding win for the approach that he shares to beat the pandemic: strong vaccine requirements, strong steps to reopen schools safely, and strong plans to distribute real medicines — not fake treatments — to help those who get sick,” according to President Biden. Larry Elder with 43% of the vote take second place and Kevin Paffrath had the third-highest amount of votes with 11%. Newsom is the second governor in U.S history to defeat a recall; the first was Wisconsin Republican Scott Walker. The last recall election was held last 2003 when Democratic Gov. Gray Davis was recalled and replaced by Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger. Newsom received also a final push from President Biden who said at a rally that the results of the election will be felt nationally and shaping the country’s direction on climate change, the pandemic, and reproductive health rights. President Biden slammed show host Larry Elder as a clone of former President Trump.
