Organizers of the effort to impeach California Governor Gavin Newsom collected enough valid signatures to carry out impeachment proceedings.
The California secretary of state's office announced Monday that
more than 1.6 million signatures
had been verified
, some 100,000 more than needed to force a vote on the Democrat's tenure as governor.
People who participated in the signature collection will be able to withdraw their support in the next 30 days.
If at the end of that period there are still at least 1.5 million people who have signed the petition, the process will continue.
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The California Department of Finance will then have to come up with an estimated cost of the elections and then the lieutenant governor will have to set a date for the elections.
Although this date has not yet been set, it is likely to be celebrated sometime in the fall.
Voters will be faced with two questions: Should Newsom retire, and if so, who should replace him?
More than half will have to answer yes to the first question, for the second to take effect.
Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, in an April 23, 2021, file photo. AP
If Newsom survives the impeachment election, he will face reelection in 2022.
Among the most prominent Republicans running to replace Newsom are former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and reality star Caitlyn Jenner, a transgender activist who has never run for popularly elected office.
Businessman John Cox, who lost to Newsom by a wide margin in 2018, and former Congressman Doug Ose have also run.
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It is the second time in state history that a governor has faced an impeachment election.
In 2003,
Democrat Gray Davis lost on the ballot and was replaced by Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger
.
Newsom won the election in 2018 with the support of more than 60% of the voters.
It could be difficult for an election against you to prosper in a heavily Democratic state, where only a quarter of registered voters are Republicans, roughly the same number as those who do not identify with any party.
However, organizers of Newsom's impeachment election see an opportunity in voters who are unhappy with the Democratic governor's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Republicans haven't won state office since 2006, when voters gave Schwarzenegger a second term.
Newsom's credibility suffered from his actions during the pandemic, especially after he was seen last fall dining at a fancy restaurant to celebrate a lobbyist's birthday, just as he asked residents to stay home.
However, efforts to remove him from office date back to before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Orrin Heatlie, a retired Sheriff's sergeant, called for an impeachment election for Newsom after the governor defended the rights of undocumented immigrants in the country.
The liberal policies of the Democratic governor have frustrated many Republican voters.
Dozens of candidates are expected to enter the race, but
so far no other Democrat has announced plans to compete against Newsom
.
The governor launched a campaign against the impeachment election in March, describing the drive to remove him from office as an effort led by extremist Republicans and supporters of former President Donald Trump, who lost in California twice.
With information from The Associated Press and NBC News.
