A recall effort over the state’s Covid-19 response means an uncertain future for California governor Gavin Newsom

Much of the response to COVID-19 in America in the past year has been led by state governments. In California, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is now facing an effort to remove him from office fueled by perceptions that his administration has mishandled its pandemic response. Jeff Cummins writes that while poor crisis management also drove a successful 2003 recall effort which saw Arnold Schwarzenegger replace Democrat Gray Davis, Newsom’s greater popularity and the nearness of the next gubernatorial election are important factors in the current Governor’s favor.