California counts cost of rare governor recall electionDespite winning office by a thumping margin in 2018, California Governor Gavin Newsom is now facing a fight to keep his job in a recall electionLOS ANGELES - It's a $280 million taxpayer-funded election that most Californians don't want, and which could see a candidate with only a handful of votes take the reins of the world's fifth-largest economy. That is in part due to the recall vote's odd structure. Newsom needs to win more than half the votes in the ballot's first question -- "Shall Gavin Newsom be recalled?" "It's almost impossible for a Republican to win a straight-up election for governor. - 'Frivolous' -With 40 million inhabitants -- the most of any US state -- California would be a hugely symbolic scalp for Republicans gearing up for next year's Congressional mid-terms.

Source: Bangkok Post September 12, 2021 01:18 UTC