California Voters Weigh Changes to Recall Elections
Proposition 5 would split California’s recall process into separate decisions. Voters would first decide whether to remove an official; if they approve removal, the vacancy would be filled through a later special election or, in some circumstances, a governor’s appointment. A recalled official could run in the special election to choose a replacement. Under the current system, voters decide whether to recall an official and who should take over in the same election.
The amendment was placed on the ballot by Democratic lawmakers in 2024, after efforts to change the system gained momentum following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s successful 2021 recall defense. Newsom was retained by 62% of voters. The recall effort cost taxpayers about $200 million, while another $100 million was spent campaigning against it by Newsom’s potential replacements.
Supporters, including Newsom, the California Democratic Party, the League of Women Voters of California and California Common Cause, say the existing process can confuse voters, burden the state with costs and allow a candidate to win with only a plurality. They argue that separating the questions would make it harder to use recalls for partisan advantage.
Republicans oppose the measure, saying it would take away voters’ ability to choose a successor when they vote to remove an official. They also argue that holding separate elections could add costs. The lieutenant governor would take over if a governor were recalled early in a term; if the recall came late, the lieutenant governor would finish the term.
Support for Proposition 5 was uncertain before Election Day. A mid-October poll found 45% planned to vote yes and 52% no, a narrower gap than in an early September poll. No group had spent money on the measure, according to the campaign finance tracker cited in the report.
Prop. 5 Would Curb Partisan Gamesmanship in California Recalls
California’s recall system can let a candidate take office without winning a regular election, while forcing voters to decide both whether to remove an official and who should replace them at once. Proposition 5 would separate those decisions, giving voters a distinct vote on removal and leaving a later special election or appointment to fill the vacancy.
Democratic lawmakers put the amendment on the ballot after the 2021 effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom. That campaign cost taxpayers about $200 million, and Newsom’s potential replacements spent another $100 million campaigning against him. Newsom remained in office, with 62% voting to retain him.
Supporters, including the California Democratic Party, Newsom, good-government organizations and former state Sen. Josh Newman, say the current process can confuse voters, waste public money and allow recalls to become a shortcut to partisan advantage. Under Proposition 5, a recalled official could still run in the later election for the seat.
Republicans say voters should choose a replacement at the same time they decide whether an official should go. But that argument defends a system supporters say can allow a candidate to gain power through a recall election rather than the ordinary electoral process. The lieutenant governor would take over if a governor were recalled early in a term; if the recall came late, the lieutenant governor would complete the term.
The vote was close before Election Day: a mid-October poll found 45% supported the measure and 52% opposed it, compared with a wider no lead in early September.
Prop. 5 Would Strip Voters of a Key Recall Decision
Proposition 5 would change a basic feature of California recalls: voters would no longer choose a replacement in the same election where they decide whether to remove an official. Instead, the vacancy would be filled later through a special election or, in some circumstances, an appointment by the governor. A recalled official could also run in the later contest.
Republicans opposing the measure say Californians should retain both choices: whether an elected official should leave office and who should replace that person. They argue that separating the questions weakens voters’ power and could mean additional special-election costs.
Democratic lawmakers placed the amendment on the ballot in 2024, and Gov. Gavin Newsom supports it. The reform push followed Newsom’s successful 2021 recall defense, an effort that cost taxpayers about $200 million. Another $100 million was spent by his potential replacements campaigning against him.
Supporters argue that the current system confuses voters and can produce undemocratic results when a successor wins with a plurality. They say Proposition 5 would prevent recalls from being used to install candidates who could not win under normal conditions. But that case does not answer the core objection from opponents: voters would lose the immediate ability to select a successor as part of the recall decision.
The measure faced a close contest before Election Day. A mid-October poll found 45% intended to vote yes and 52% no, while an early September poll showed a larger lead for opponents.
Reported by CalMatters, CBS San Francisco.
