Trendsetter? California's recall election could inspire other western states

With Republicans still stinging from California's failed recall attempt of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, one elections expert says nearby states could see more copycat recall efforts.

The recall election proved Newsom was not Gray Davis, the last California governor to be recalled in 2003. The freshman governor defeated the recall effort against him by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.

Supporters of the recall used Newsom's unilateral COVID-19 mitigation orders to fulfill their signature requirements.

"Newsom lost and then later won on COVID-19 handling," said Ben Kaplan, CEO of TOP Government, a San Francisco-based national polling and market research agency. "His viral gaffe moment at French Laundry gave the recall huge momentum. But, in the end, the candidate that everyone coalesced around in Larry Elder caused enough to fear what he could do over COVID-19."