What Went Down At The California Recall Election: Live Results

Newsom’s most infamous pandemic faux pas came last November when someone snapped a photo of the governor dining indoors with a large group at the lauded French Laundry restaurant in Yountville.

The incident captured headlines because Newsom was put in the uncomfortable position of not following his own COVID-19 restrictions. Supporters, detractors and even “Saturday Night Live” were quick to point out Newsom’s hypocrisy, giving the recall movement added steam just as its signature deadline was coincidentally being extended an additional four months.

And while the scandal has had serious consequences for Newsom, what about the restaurant itself, which has gained notoriety beyond the typical foodie crowd? The short answer: They don’t seem to be hurting for reservations. As of this week, the 3-Michelin Star restaurant is booked solidly through at least the end of October. But if you’re lucky enough to snag a seat, here’s what to expect (and what it’ll cost you).

Hailed as “the greatest cooking space in America” by the Michelin Guide, The French Laundry is perhaps the crown jewel of California fine dining. Nestled deep in the heart of Napa Valley, folks hoping to partake in the ever-changing seasonal menu from chef Thomas Keller (a French Legion of Honor recipient to boot) have to pay a steep price to indulge in dishes that include white truffle-infused hen egg, decadent charcoal grilled beef calotte and a signature oysters and pearls — white sturgeon caviar with tapioca pearls and butter-poached beau soleil oysters. Each multi-course prefix meal starts at a base price of $350 a head, though a request to dine al fresco in the restaurant’s Eden-esque courtyard or partake in a signature white truffle and caviar dinner can set diners back as much as $1,200.

As for what the recall means for state Republicans, I’m skeptical that the California GOP can use it as a launching pad for a resurgence. The governorship will be on the ballot in 2022, regardless of the outcome of the recall, and nothing about how the California Republican Party has handled the recall thus far indicates to me that it will be able to mount a stronger challenge than it did in 2018. The state party is pretty fractured right now. It declined to endorse a replacement candidate earlier this summer, reportedly because some people were concerned that an endorsement of one candidate might discourage people who planned to cast their ballot for a different candidate.

To your question, Amelia, no state uses RCV for its recalls, but pretty much every state does it “better” than California, such as by holding a normal election where the recall target can run against the replacement candidate(s), or just holding the replacement election on a later date, as Emma and Joshua mentioned.