Refresh for updates … Gavin Newsom is staying put as California governor after the state’s voters declined to oust him in the recall election today. The issue has been front of mind for Californians — and Hollywood — for months, especially the past few weeks, and social media was flooded with reaction to the results tonight. Have a look at a sampling of them below.
Major news outlets began projecting the result about 40 minutes after polls closed 8 p.m. PT, after Los Angeles County’s mail-in ballots came in pro-Newsom in a big way. The governor beat back the recall attempt and conservative talk show host Larry Elder, who was the leading candidate to replace him.
Gavin Newsom Says He’s “Humbled, Grateful But Resolved” After Big Victory Against Recall
It was a different result 18 years ago, when then-Gov. Gray Davis was recalled and replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger. The actor-turned-pol was re-elected in 2007.
The multimillion-dollar 2021 recall effort in the deep-blue state drew the attention of national media and national politicians. President Joe Biden was in Southern California on Monday to stump for Newsom to give a speech in which he called Elder “a “clone of Donald Trump.” Vice President and California native Kamala Harris flew in from Washington, D.C, last week to campaign again the recall, framing the race within the larger context of the battle for voting rights and abortion rights.
In the end, it appears to be a landslide defeat for the recall. Here’s what people in the entertainment industry are saying about tonight’s failed bid:
Overheard: The vote was so lopsided, it’s basically Elder abuse.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) September 15, 2021
Now that the phony #Recall agenda is over and #LarryElder can return to AM Radio to defend white supremacy and #CaitlynJenner can return to incoherent irrelevance we can focus on how #GavinNewsom has actually failed the state and figure out how to fix it. https://t.co/ShJDMnyZjy
— Larry Charles (@larrycharlesism) September 15, 2021
What a waste of millions of dollars.
— Tanya Saracho (@TanyaSaracho) September 15, 2021
Hey @larryelder I dare your ass to say this loss by 30%+ was rigged. Just go for it, Homeslice. Ride that train ALL the way into Crazytown and whatnot.
— George Wallace (@MrGeorgeWallace) September 15, 2021
CONGRATULATIONS GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM and your landslide victory! You crushed it. Another huge loss for Trump and Republicans. The American people do not want these hateful idiots in charge of anything. Gavin – keep moving California forward! Your state is the progressive leader!
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) September 15, 2021
.@GavinNewsom remains our Governor! Any “votes” for @larryelder weren’t even counted. There was no need. https://t.co/TFvYWlCykF
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) September 15, 2021
Oh, and now can we just put this “recall” notion to bed forever? pic.twitter.com/H99Nu9RMcg
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) September 15, 2021
Thank God @GavinNewsom 🌟
— Frances Fisher (@Frances_Fisher) September 15, 2021
A damn waste
All that money could have been spent on schools— Diedrich Bader (@bader_diedrich) September 15, 2021
Thank You #California Voters for voting NO on the recall! Governor Gavin Newsom has survived! #GavinNewsom https://t.co/E4cCBT5svg
— Sherri Shepherd (@sherrieshepherd) September 15, 2021
@msnbc Steve Kornacki calls California Recall for Newsom. No GOP takeover, No Larry Elder. Thank God@
— Morgan Fairchild (@morgfair) September 15, 2021
Going to sleep utterly thrilled that Governor @GavinNewsom crushed the anti-science, anti-vaccine, “big lie” block in the #CaliforniaRecallElection . The forces of reason crushed the Darwin Award Winners.
— Chris Bohjalian (@ChrisBohjalian) September 15, 2021
👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽
— Holly Robinson Peete 💃🏾♍️ (@hollyrpeete) September 15, 2021