California Republican Party Won’t Endorse Any Candidate in Recall Election
The state GOP probably recognizes an endorsement would be the “kiss of death” to any candidate.
24 Republican candidates are vying to replace California Governor Gavin Newsom in September’s recall election.
Wisely, the California Republican Party will not endorse a candidate. The action probably would be the “kiss of death” for any candidate.
The party voted overwhelmingly on Saturday not to endorse a candidate in the September race over concerns that throwing their support behind one of the Republican candidates would divide the party and lead some voters to stay home, The Associated Press reported.
Roughly 90 percent of the delegates who were at the party’s virtual meeting supported not endorsing one candidate, the AP noted. They were reportedly planning on choosing which candidate to endorse out of a small group of four, according to Politico.
The argument is that the party wants to focus on the first question on the ballot: Do you vote to recall Newsom? If more than 50% of Californians answer “Yes,” the governorship goes to the top vote-getter in the second portion of the ballot.
“We are squarely focused on putting California back on track by recalling the worst governor in California history,” state GOP chair Jessica Millan Patterson said in a statement on Saturday.
Patterson charged that “Newsom is arrogant, incompetent and a desperate politician who has failed Californians in every possible way.”
The California GOP decided against backing any of the candidates who had qualified to be considered – conservative talk radio host Larry Elder, former two-term San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, state assemblyman Kevin Kiley, and former Rep. Doug Ose – after two Californians on the Republican National Committee urged against making an endorsement.
The influential officials, Harmeet Dhillon and Shawn Steel, argued that backing one of the four contenders would possibly divide Republicans and depress voter turnout among those supporting the candidates that didn’t land the party’s endorsement.
Several candidates acknowledge that this was a smart move by the party.
“My compliments to Chairwoman Patterson for figuring out how to allow Republican delegates the option of No Endorsement,” Ose said in a tweet. “The Party needs to focus on Question 1. Let’s get this done!”
Cox said on Twitter said he is “glad the delegates kept the focus” on recalling Newsom.
Meanwhile, Newsom is trying to build up some credibility among his supporters by basing New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, facing his own uncertain political future with a recall election a month away, has joined a growing list of high-profile Democrats who support the ouster of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Facing possible impeachment after the New York’s Attorney General’s office released a report this week detailing multiple accounts of sexual harassment in violation of state and federal laws, Cuomo has ignored calls from President Joe Biden and other elected officials across New York and the country to resign, instead choosing to dig in his heels.
The governor of the nation’s most populous state, also once considered a rising star in the Democratic Party, is among the latest to side with Biden.
“Governor Newsom agrees with President Biden and others that Governor Cuomo should be held accountable for his actions and resign,” spokeswoman Erin Mellon told USA TODAY on Friday.
Newsom had previously declined to take a stance on Cuomo’s future. In March, he told “The View” that it was up to New Yorkers and the governor whether he should leave office.
“It’s more difficult for me, 3,000 miles away, as a fellow governor, to opine beyond that,” Newsom said at the time.
It just goes to show that a recall election will put the steel in anyone’s spine.
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If the state GOP people endorsed Elder, they’d talk “house n1663r”. If they endorsed someone else, it would be “racist! they didn’t endorse Elder!”.
The state GOP endorsement means less than nothing to Republican voters here. Where the hell have they been? Better they stay under their rock where it is safe for everyone.
“Remember to stay home, lock your doors and stay safe.”
Well said, they are all over the map in the worst way.
The NRA needs to endorse Newsom.
Sorry, but there’s no “steel” in this decision. It’s par for the course for Cal GOP. They’ve been doing nothing for decades. Literally.
Local chapters have run out of money in election years. Just ask Ron Coleman.
They’ve said nothing of the the actual steal, which we use Dominion machines here in California. And we have a super-majority – use that info as you will.
They aren’t putting up a stink about the “print your own ballot” scheme that was announced – just in time for the recall election.
Nobody cares what the Cal GOP does or thinks because it’s always to the determent of the GOP voter.
And in this case in particular? Endorse Elder. We’re all voting for him anyway. He’s the only option in another terrible field of GOP candidates. Bruce Jenner? Cox? Falcone? Even Kiley is a puff. We all know it. There’s no division to be had that’s not already divided. Grow a pair, Cal GOP.
Honestly, I think that Brucelyn Jenner could be the type to draw some center left votes considering his current wardrobe.
The “steel” Eastman writes about pertains to Newsom’s joining Biden in urging Cuomo to resign.
But I would never use that word to describe anything Governor Lame-O dies.
Send Elder some bucks; I did.
*does
The gop establishment is making a good decision. Stay out of what amounts to a primary. Don’t favor one candidate. Let voters make their choice and support it.
If only we could get the gop establishment to do so on a consistent basis we would have a set of office holders that more closely reflect the views of their constituents.
I hope they support it. Otherwise, it’s high time to dust off the “Vote out ALL incumbents” chant; let the cards fall where they may. Redux 1994.
The Ca. GOP is a bunch of whipped dogs that sits in the corner and whimpers.
In CA, we call them the “Please Don’t Hit Me Again” party.
“The California GOP decided against backing any of the candidates who had qualified to be considered – conservative talk radio host Larry Elder, former two-term San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, state assemblyman Kevin Kiley, and former Rep. Doug Ose –”
Why was Jenner not qualified?
First, who gives a shirt what the CA GOP says? Second, Jenner is in Australia filming something or other. His/her/its candidacy was a PR stunt.
BUT he/she/zhe IS making all the right noises that none of the others are making. People took a punt on Trump (in spite of him being a Democrat apparently at the time). Maybe its time to take another punt. After all he/she/zhe wont be any worse than the current fucker.
this allows them to shunt any blame if the candidate they actually want loses.
its not a decision made for the betterment of politics but for the ability to slither away if needed.