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California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, is unlikely to stay in office much longer. Thanks to a recall effort spearheaded by California Republicans, the controversial governor will be facing a recall election soon, if election officials verify enough of the signatures in the recall effort are legitimate. The recall is expected to be successful, putting the first-term governor on the defensive.
Should the recall effort succeed, the first result is that voters would be asked to determine whether Newsom should be removed from office. If fifty percent of voters cast their ballot to have Newsom removed, this would be followed by a special election to determine his successor.
As a result, there is a large field of candidates throwing their bids in for the top spot in California. One of them is Olympic champion and trans rights activist Caitlyn Jenner. On Friday, Jenner wrote on her Twitter account that she has filed the paperwork to make her run for governor.
On her website, Jenner announced her candidacy, writing “For the past decade, we have seen the glimmer of the Golden State reduced by one-party rule that places politics over progress and special interests over people. Sacramento needs an honest leader with a clear vision.”
A common Republican refrain in California is that one party holds the majority of the offices at the state level. This “one-party rule” has had disastrous effects on the state, according to Republicans, who largely disagree with the policies enacted by politicians like Gavin Newsom.
Jenner referred to herself as a “proven winner,” likely referring to her Olympic achievements. Notably absent from her initial statements, critics observed, were any clarifications regarding her policy. While Jenner is known for her trans rights activism, little is known about her personal policy stances.
Jenner, made famous by her Olympic achievements and her numerous reality TV show appearances, isn’t the first Republican celebrity to seize on an opportunity to govern California after a recall. Arnold Schwarzenegger, famous for his roles in action movies, made a successful run at the governor’s office back in 2003, surprising many.
Jenner, who is 71, has never served in public office. She’s one of the only big names in the race at the moment, despite the immense national focus on the growing field of Republican candidates. Other big names in the Republican field are businessman John Cox, who lost to Newsom in 2018, and San Diego’s former mayor Kevin Faulconer. Neither Faulconer nor Cox has the same national profile as Jenner, however, something some pundits feel might give the newcomer the edge over her opponents.
