Faulconer ready to face Newsom in race for Calif. governorship

Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer speaks during a news conference in Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in the San Pedro section of Los Angeles. Faulconer announced Monday he is entering the race for California governor. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 9:47 AM PT – Wednesday, February 3, 2021

A leading Golden State Republican is poised to challenge Democrat Gavin Newsom for the governorship as Californians grow increasingly tired of living under his leadership.

Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, who recently announced the formal launch of his campaign, said he hopes to bring back California from the Democrat Party’s mismanagement.

Launched our movement at one of the schools Gavin Newsom promised to open this month.

Parents are fed up.

Many private schools are open because they’re accountable to parents.

But public schools are closed because they’re accountable to Newsom.

Time for a California Comeback. pic.twitter.com/jNMHKRk9LS

— Kevin Faulconer (@Kevin_Faulconer) February 2, 2021

Faulconer’s candidacy comes amid heightened tension between Newsom and the state’s population. Recent opinion polls show California residents increasingly disapprove of Newsom’s governorship with his approval rating falling from 64 to 46 percent in just the last four-months.

In the midst of flagging approval, the fifth effort to oust Newsom also seems the most likely to succeed. The campaign to recall him has reportedly collected approximately 1.3 million signatures with six weeks still to go until the gathering period closes.

If the campaign succeeds, a special recall election would be held this summer. Faulconer is confident in his chances of him facing off against Newsom at this earlier date due to the public’s mounting frustration against their current governor.

Analysts also say a recall election would give Republicans a much greater chance of taking back the Golden State with UC San Diego Chair of Political Science Thad Kousser noting, the earlier election would undercut Newsom’s ability to gather up funds and mount a counter-campaign.

Whether he faces Newsom this year or in the 2022 election, Faulconer said he’s prepared to work to get the state back on the right course and renew “the promise of California.”

“It’s become a land of broken promises snd the promise breaker-in-chief is Gavin Newsom,” stated the Republican challenger.

MORE NEWS: One-on-One with Fmr San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer

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