In California Recall Results, Democrats See a Road Map, Republicans See a Warning

[question everything]

(snip)

While recall elections are unusual and California is heavily Democratic, analysts in both parties said Wednesday that Mr. Newsom’s lopsided win contains lessons for 2022 candidates. With nearly three-quarters of precincts reporting Wednesday night, some 64% of those who voted had opted to retain Mr. Newsom as governor, with 36% voting to oust him, an Associated Press tally showed.

(snip)

Mr. Newsom told voters during the campaign that radio show host Larry Elder, a Republican and leading vote-winner among replacement candidates, would roll back public-health protections, such as the state mandate that healthcare workers be vaccinated, and said a successful recall would empower former Republican President Donald Trump and his allies. Mr. Elder, who has said he is vaccinated, said that government officials shouldn’t be able to force people to wear masks or receive the vaccine and called Mr. Newsom’s school and business restrictions arbitrary and extreme. Republicans on Wednesday focused on what the outcome said about candidate selection. Many said that Mr. Elder set a poor example for the type of candidate who should win coming GOP primaries for House, Senate and governor in Democratic-leaning or swing territory.

(snip)

But strategists in both parties said the stunning turnaround in polling—from a statistical dead heat over the summer to a double-digit lead by early September—is an indication that Democrats can overcome the prospect of low voter turnout next year. The Newsom campaign launched a formidable field campaign in the midst of the pandemic—knocking on 2 million doors and sending 31 million text messages to voters by the eve of the election.

(snip)

If Democrats can replicate that energy next year, they won’t necessarily retain their congressional majorities but might hold off the kind of wave election in which a party suffers sweeping losses, as hit the GOP in 2018 and Democrats in 2010, Mr. Gonzales said. Analysts said that a better test of the political environment will come in November with the election for governor in Virginia, a state that has trended Democratic but where Republicans often remain competitive. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat and former governor, is competing against Republican Glenn Youngkin, a political newcomer and former chief executive of Carlyle Group Inc., the asset-management and private-equity firm.

(snip)

The California recall suggested that independent voters were available to either party, with half voting to oust Mr. Newsom and half voting to retain him, according to an exit poll conducted by Edison Research and published by news outlets.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-california-recall-results-democrats-see-a-road-map-republicans-see-a-warning-11631736115 (subscription)

[wryter2000]

1. Zoom call with McAuliffe on Monday at 5pm Pacific

[link:https://events.democrats.org/event/414463/?referring_vol=3457347&rname=Alice&timeslot=2940616&share_medium=email_link&share_context=email_1|

This is a kick off for the Democratic Party for people who are interested in making calls for Virginia. You can sign up for this without promising to make calls. Of course, the organizers will think you're interested, but if you don't sign up for a shift, you won't have to make calls.

Bear in mind, though, the party will have your email address. I don't know if your phone number is required. You can check that before signing up. I get texts, but I just delete them if I'm not interested.

Making calls about the recall was pretty rewarding.