California Governor Recall Election (2021)

Originally shared October 2021

Statement: We Celebrate our Grassroots Mobilization Efforts in the September 14 Special Election

October 7, 2021

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community organizations reached and mobilized thousands of AAPIs to vote in the September 14 special election.

“We did this because we needed to. We did this to protect immigrant working class AAPI communities facing anti-Asian hate crimes and a raging pandemic disproportionately affecting Pacific Islanders more than any other group in California. This campaign was about protecting our communities from a clear threat against the progressive wins we’ve had and advancing the racial, economic and environmental justice issues we are fighting for every day.” said Rozlind Silva, AAPI FORCE-EF’s Civic Engagement Organizer.

Our community organizing network led the state’s biggest AAPI-focused get out the vote operations as a core member of the multiracial alliance, Million Voters Project (MVP) which mobilized AAPI, Latinx, Black, and Youth voters across the state. In the four weeks since MVP and AAPI FORCE-EF kicked off the GOTV campaign, the groups’ community-led operation to turn out voters of color turned this recall election into a base building opportunity.

Daisy Maxion, Filipino Advocates for Justice’s Civic Engagement Organizer said, “Our outreach programs expanded the electorate by making sure Asian immigrant voters understood what was at stake in this election. By not voicing our vote, we would roll back decades of progress in protecting low-wage workers, addressing the current spike in anti-Asian violence, and making sure corporations pay their fair share in California.”

Outreach teams spanned the state, with get out the vote operations in Sacramento, Fresno, San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange County, and San Diego. Our field partners include Asian Solidarity Collective, California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, Filipino Advocates for Justice, Hmong Innovating Politics, and Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Alliance. Canvassers and volunteers had direct phone and door conversations with over 6,000 Asian American and Pacific Islander voters across the state of California, with voters contacted in English, Tagalog, Hmong, and Vietnamese.

Through our partnership with the Secretary of State’s office, AAPI FORCE-EF and local partners also reached voters through TV, radio, print, and digital advertisements:

• Hmong Innovating Politics’ Communications Associate & Language Specialist spoke about the importance of voting on KBIF 900AM Hmong Radio and Hmong TV Network.
• Shared thousands of print flyers with general information about the special election and the necessary education about how ballots were distributed.
• Translated materials that demystified the recall ballot were boosted on social media channels most used by community members.

Every conversation made a difference. With voters, our network of passionate phone bankers and door-to-door canvassers emphasized that everyone in California should earn fair wages, have clean air and water, live in a safe, affordable home and be able to care for our families. We let them know that their votes would decide the future of California.

By making sure our neighbors and peers filled out their ballots, we empowered ourselves to keep us safe and protect the progress our movement has made to protect immigrant, refugee, and working class communities.

What is a Recall?

Recall: (Est. 1911) the power of the voters to remove elected officials before their terms expire.

• Used by voters to express their dissatisfaction with their elected representatives.
• Any state elected official may be recalled. This does not apply for federal officers such as US Representatives and Senators.
• Process begins through a petition.

Recall “Proponents”: Voters who initiate the recall and have control of collecting signatures of the recall petition.

Gubernatorial (AKA Governor): a public official with the power to govern the executive branch of a state. 4-year term

California’s Recall History

Since 1913, there have been 179 recall attempts. There have been 55 recall attempts for governor. Two governor recall attempts have qualified for the ballot. (2003, 2021). In 2003, Governor Gray Davis was ousted (there were 135 candidates!) and replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger without a majority vote.

For a recall attempt to qualify for the ballot, a recall petition must receive signatures from only 12% of the voter turnout in the last governor election. California has the 2nd lowest threshold in US for a gubernatorial recall.

“This arrangement is not just perilous for the state’s stability, it’s undemocratic.” The Los Angeles Times Editorial Board, Aug 2, 2021

What does a Recall Ballot look like?

A recall ballot has two questions:

1. Voter must select Yes or No for removing incumbent (current official being recalled).
   → If more than 50% votes no, then the incumbent remains in office.
2. If voter wants to remove incumbent, they will choose a replacement candidate.
   → If more than 50% votes yes, the incumbent is replaced by the candidate who receives the most votes, even if they receive less than 50% votes.