President Joe Biden is continuing to express his support for California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) as he is calling for voters in California to “vote no on the recall election.”
“Governor Newsom is leading California through unprecedented crises,” Biden said in a statement on Thursday, according to Politico.
The president continued, “He is a key partner in fighting the pandemic and delivering economic relief to working families and helping us build our economy back better than ever. He’s taking on the climate crisis and standing up for the rights of women, immigrants, and the LGBTQ community. He knows how to get the job done because he’s been doing it. And to keep him on the job, registered California voters should vote no on the recall election by September 14 and keep California moving forward.”
A poll released in late July by the University of California Berkeley found that among voters who are most likely to participate in the recall election “47% favored Newsom’s recall and 50% favoring his retention.”
Gov. @GavinNewsom is leading California through unprecedented crises—he's a key partner in fighting the pandemic and helping build our economy back better. To keep him on the job, registered voters should vote no on the recall election by 9/14 and keep California moving forward.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 13, 2021
The Biden administration previously indicated it opposes the effort to recall Newsom.
In addition to sharing a commitment to a range of issues with @GavinNewsom from addressing the climate crisis to getting the pandemic under control, @POTUS clearly opposes any effort to recall @GavinNewsom
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) February 9, 2021
However, Biden’s statement comes as the White House is considering “deploying Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris — or both — on Newsom’s behalf,” according to Politico.
The publication reports, “A source familiar with White House planning said both Biden and Harris intend to take an active role in the campaign’s homestretch. That could include in-person appearances and social media support.”
The recall vote will occur in September. Per The Hill, “On the same ballot, they will be given the choice to vote for Newsom or a GOP candidate. The candidate with the most votes will win only if the recall effort itself receives a majority of support.”