California voters decided 64% to 36% not to recall Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Republican radio host Larry Elder was the favorite to win if the opposite happened.
Elder gave a passionate speech as he conceded defeat as he picked apart the problems Newsom faces but has not addressed:
He urged supporters to be “gracious in defeat” but spent much of his half-hour speech ridiculing Newsom’s leadership and character and faulting him for rising crime, an unchecked homeless crisis and housing costs that are out of reach for many working-class families.Elder sounded at times as if a campaign was starting, not ending.“This is what we’re facing: rising crime, declining quality of our public schools,” he said. “Rolling brownouts. Water shortages. … I can’t think of anything that this man has done in the last two years that suggests he deserves another day in office.”And he argued that his campaign had pressured California Democrats to change direction.“We are forcing them now to pay attention to the problem of homelessness. We are forcing them now to do a better job on schools,” Elder said.In the race, Newsom highlighted many of Elder’s positions that are out of step with most left-leaning Californians, including his criticism of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision on abortion and his promise to erase state vaccine and mask mandates.But Elder said he was the one working to bridge differences and solve problems.“I’m a uniter,” he said. “We are going to bring this country together.”
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY