Pushing back: Democrats’ ad attacks recall organizers, calls effort a “power grab.”

SACRAMENTO — After months of sitting back while the recall movement gained momentum, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Democratic Party went on offense Monday, launching a campaign aimed at keeping Newsom in office.

The state party joined the recall fundraising spree by dropping $250,000 in cash and a $100,000 inkind contribution into the campaign, which debuted an ad characterizing the effort as the work of Republicans and farright groups loyal to former President Donald Trump.

“I won’t be distracted by this partisan, Republican recall — but I will fight it,” Newsom tweeted. “There is too much at stake. Getting Californians vaccinated, our economy safely reopened, and our kids back in school are simply too important to risk.”

The Democrats’ ad labels the recall a “power grab” and suggests the effort is fueled by national Republicans and extremist groups like the Proud Boys, who supported Trump’s effort to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Newsom’s antirecall website juxtaposes images of recall protesters and insurrectionists attacking the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

“Instead of helping fight the pandemic, national Republicans are coming to fight Californians,” the ad says.

Randy Economy, a spokesman for the recall campaign, said Newsom’s effort to portray the recall as driven by farright Republicans is “nonsensical.” He said 38% of the 2.1 million signatures that recall organizers say they have collected came from independents, Democrats and members of third parties.

“He’s desperate. He’s fighting for his political life,” Economy said. “The people have spoken loud and clear, and the campaign has now begun.”

Democrats and Newsom are all but conceding the recall will qualify for the ballot and are transitioning into campaign mode. Recall supporters must submit about 1.5 million valid signatures of registered voters by Wednesday.

Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State Los Angeles, said Newsom appears to be trying to get out in front of the surge in attention the recall campaign will receive this week when it turns in its last batch of signatures.

“It’s an effective way to grab control of the narrative,” Sonenshein said.

Newsom is trying to nationalize the campaign and draw support and money from Democrats outside the state. On Tuesday, he is scheduled to appear on ABC’s “The View,” his first sitdown interview focused on the recall.

The governor has tried to solidify his progressive base by touting support from Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Cory Booker of New Jersey, Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders and Georgia votingrights activist Stacey Abrams.