41 recall candidates eligible as state shrinks field by half
Only half of the candidates who filed their intention to challenge Gov. Gavin Newsom in the Sept. 14 recall election are eligible to run, according to a new list released by the Secretary of State’s Office late Saturday.
More than 80 people filed statements of intent to run for governor as of late Friday, but only 41 were included on a notice to candidates released the next day. Participants must meet a number of qualifying criteria, including being a U.S. citizen, being registered to vote in California and never having been convicted of certain felonies related to public corruption.
They are also required to submit between 65 and 100 nomination signatures, a $4,194.94 filing fee (or 7,000 signatures in lieu of paying that) and five years of federal income tax returns, among other requirements.
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Shirley Weber is expected to release a final certified list of the names that will appear on the September ballot. Jenna Dresner, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s Office, said that not everyone who filed a statement of intent followed through on the remaining steps, including submitting all the necessary paperwork in time. Any candidate who did not make Saturday’s list “did not meet the requirements and qualifications to do so by the deadline.”
“Any changes to the list at this point would be through court order,” she said. “For example, during the notification period, candidates may challenge an opponent’s ballot designation in Sacramento County Superior Court.”
The biggest surprise in the Saturday notice was the omis
sion of conservative radio talk show host Larry Elder, who threw his hat into the ring four days before the filing deadline. Elder spokeswoman Stephanie Marshall said his campaign submitted all required documents to the secretary of state and the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters late Friday afternoon, shortly before the two offices closed.
“We fully expect to be on the final certified list of candidates,” she said, but didn’t say if Elder plans to take legal action.
Saturday’s list included 21 Republicans, eight Democrats and 12 with other or no party preference. Newsom himself won’t be on the ballot because he can’t run to replace himself. Instead, voters will be asked two questions on Sept. 14: Should Newsom be recalled? And if so, who should replace him?
If a majority votes yes on the first question, whoever receives the most votes on the second question will replace Newsom for the rest of his term, which ends in January 2023, even if the winning candidate doesn’t obtain a majority.
The field is much smaller than for the 2003 special election, in which 135 people ran to replace Gov. Gray Davis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger emerged victorious.