SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – The cost of holding the upcoming California Governor Gavin Newsom recall election will be $ 215 million, according to a preliminary estimate released Thursday by the state Department of Finance.
Officials say the cost is based on estimates from election officials in California’s 58 counties.
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State finance officials have warned that the estimate of $ 215 million could be higher, however, due to other expenses – such as the secretary of state’s office expenses to oversee and certify the vote.
Dozens of Republican and Independent candidates have already filed against Newsom in the recall elections, including former Olympian and reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner. Other top challengers include former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and eternal GOP challenger John Cox.
In response to the Finance Department estimate, Faulconer equated the cost of the recall elections to a “fraction” of the money lost to the state due to unemployment fraud.
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“He’s sent tens of billions of dollars to criminals, including violent criminals and out-of-state people,” Faulconer tweeted.
The cost of the recall is only a fraction of the $ 30 billion in EDD fraud that Gavin Newsom chaired. It has sent tens of billions of dollars to criminals, including violent criminals and people out of state. When Newsom is remembered, Californians will save billions of dollars. #RecallGavinNewsom https://t.co/mBF0hNsvfn
– Kevin Faulconer (@Kevin_Faulconer) June 10, 2021
No prominent Democrats – unlike the 2003 recall elections where the then lieutenant. Gov. Cruz Bustamante showed up – announced a campaign against Newsom, but some liberal challengers filed a declaration of intent to run.
With the state legislature extending the postal voting measure that was implemented in the 2020 general election due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all California voters will likely receive a ballot in the mail for the recall election.
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An exact date for the recall election has not been set, but it is expected to happen in the fall.
