President Joe Biden believes that California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) success in beating back a recall challenge is also a victory for COVID-19 vaccine requirements.
In a statement on Wednesday, Biden said, “Congratulations to Governor Gavin Newsom on defeating the recall vote. This vote is a resounding win for the approach that he and I share to beating the pandemic: strong vaccine requirements, strong steps to reopen schools safely, and strong plans to distribute real medicines—not fake treatments—to help those who get sick.”
“The fact that voters in both traditionally Democratic and traditionally Republican parts of the state rejected the recall shows that Americans are unifying behind taking these steps to get the pandemic behind us,” he added.
Read the statement below:
"This vote is a resounding win for…strong vaccine requirements, strong steps to reopen schools safely, and strong plans to distribute real medicines—not fake treatments—to help those who get sick," says @POTUS of #CaliforniaRecall outcome. pic.twitter.com/BTPG4j77vj
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) September 15, 2021
Biden’s statement comes after Newsom defeated a recall challenge.
Ahead of the election, Newsom warned that the Republicans running to replace him “support eliminating mask mandates in our public schools, eliminating vaccine verifications.”
“I have no interest in taking us off the COVID cliff,” he added.
As CNN notes, outrage around the governor’s coronavirus measures helped fuel the push to oust him.
On Thursday, Biden announced new vaccine requirements that could affect millions of workers around the country.
The new requirements will require workers to get vaccinated against the virus or be subjected to weekly testing. However, there is no option for federal employees to opt out of getting vaccinated by receiving a test.
When asked what his message was to Republicans vowing to challenge the requirement, Biden responded, “I am so disappointed that particularly some of the Republican governors have been so cavalier with the health of these kids, so cavalier with the health of their communities. We’re playing for real here. This isn’t a game.”
“And I don’t know of any scientist out there in this field that doesn’t think it makes considerable sense to do the six things I’ve suggested,” he added.