Newsom, GOP rivals seek votes in recall

OAKLAND >> Democratic allies of California Gov. Gavin Newsom continued to express confidence Saturday in his chances of beating back a recall but warned his supporters not to let up on urging people to vote as they seek a decisive win, while Republicans said the contest is far from settled.

“We don’t need to just win by a little, we need to win by a lot. We need to send a message: Hands off our democracy, hands off our California,” said April Verrett, president of the SEIU Local 2015, as she rallied union members who have been among Newsom’s biggest supporters.

Newsom joined the Oakland rally as his Republican rivals made their cases up and down the state. The race concludes on Tuesday.

The ballot includes two questions: Should Newsom be recalled from office and, if so, who should replace him? If a majority of voters want him gone, he’d be replaced by whoever gets the most votes among the 46 candidates on the replacement ballot.