What Went Down At The California Recall Election: Live Results

While the organizers of the recall began their work before COVID-19 hit, the pandemic arguably played a big role in why we’re here today. For one thing, California courts extended the signature gathering deadline because organizers argued the pandemic had stifled their efforts. But Newsom’s COVID-19 restrictions and public relations snafus — like attending a posh dinner party unmasked in an enclosed space in violation of state protocols — may have galvanized Republicans and even some Democrats — to support his recall.

Nevertheless, despite some frustration with Newsom’s handling of COVID-19, the preliminary exit polls suggested that only about 3-in-10 California voters felt his pandemic policies were too strict, and Newsom is winning more than 4-in-5 of the roughly 7-in-10 voters who said his policies were about right or not strict enough. Additionally, about 3-in-10 voters named the pandemic as the most important issue (more than any other issue named), and Newsom won 4-in-5 of those voters, too.