LATIN VOTE
Los Angeles, Jun 24 (EFE News) .- California Governor Gavin Newsom is officially facing an impeachment process after confirming the number of signatures needed to launch the call to the polls, where Latino voters, according to experts , are once again a key piece in the results.
The California Secretary of State’s Office confirmed that supporters of the impeachment of the Democrat surpassed the required threshold of 1,719,900, after completing the 30-day period for signatures to be withdrawn. Only 43 decided to retract.
The California Department of Finance will now have to determine the amount to be spent in the process that marks the second time in state history that a special election will be held to remove a sitting governor. It will be the fourth in American history to hit the ballot.
The call to the polls could come as early as October, which is causing efforts by hopefuls to replace Newsom and the governor himself to step on the gas to ensure voter support.
“Both Newsom and his opponents must campaign to win the Latino vote,” warns Efe Miguel Tinker-Salas, professor of History and Latino Studies at Pomona College.
He adds that the Democrats cannot take for granted that the Latino vote is a bloc that will support the current governor, so “they must take them into account more than ever.”
With 7.9 million eligible Latino voters, California is the state that hosts the most Hispanic voters in the United States, representing about a quarter of the entire Latino electorate in the nation, according to data from the Pew Center in 2020.
Latinos currently represent 30% of California voters, a not inconsiderable number when it comes to tipping the balance.
Newsom won the 2018 election by a large advantage by 7,721,410 votes (61%) against Republican John Cox who managed to obtain 4,742. 825 votes (38.1%).
Cox is among the candidates who aspire to remove Newsom and remain with the governorship, as well as former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner.
Republican strategist Luis Alvarado warns that Newsom has a double challenge with Latinos, since in addition to getting them to support him, he has to make sure they go to the polls.
“It is not a process similar to 2020 or 2018, when the Donald Trump government pushed many to go out to vote, including Latino voters,” Alvarado clarifies.
A University of Berkeley poll last February found that 43% of the state’s Latino residents would favor keeping the Democrat in office by that date. However, 29% are undecided on the issue and 28% would support his removal.
Tinker-Salas points out that the election will also be a qualification on the governor’s work in the coronavirus pandemic – which hit Latinos more than any other community in California – the economic recovery and the management of the drought, which threatens to deepen and hit the state hard.
“They also have to take the time to explain that this process is not a normal election, and that it needs the support of Latinos,” says the professor.
This special process has two parts when it comes to voters: First they will be asked if they want to remove Newsom. At least 50% of voters will have to approve the removal of the Democrat from office for the revocation to be successful.
Second, voters will be asked to choose a replacement for Newsom from a list of candidates.
Alvarado stresses that the strategy of the Democratic Party will also impact this impeachment process and if other Democrats decide to launch their candidacy, including some Hispanics who have tried to run for office like former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
“It is a double play because it may be that other figures want to make sure they are on the list of candidates in case the dismissal progresses, although I don’t really see anyone with possibilities”, assesses the strategist when comparing this process with that which achieved the dismissal of the Governor Gray Davis in 2003.
For his part, Tinker-Salas warns that Republicans do not currently have a person with the charisma of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who won that special election.
“California has changed a lot, and that’s because of Hispanics. This is a litmus test for the candidates to closely observe the problems of the Latino community, and how important they are to the state, ”concludes the professor.
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