Xavier Becerra recall, Attorney General of California (2020)

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2020 Xavier Becerra recall: Attorney General of California
Recall status
Ended
Table of contents
Recall supporters Recall opponents Election history Path to the ballot
See also
External links Footnotes

An effort to recall California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D) was launched on February 14, 2020. The petition was approved for circulation by Secretary of State Alex Padilla (D) on March 11, 2020. Supporters of the recall had until August 18, 2020, to collect 1,470,760 signatures to require a recall election. No signatures were submitted in the recall effort.

The recall petition alleged that Becerra mismanaged the state’s legal system, wasted public money and resources, lacks leadership, and has been hostile with his policy oversight.

In February 2020, Becerra issued a statement in response to the recall petition. He stated, “I’ve been fighting for California values all my life. That’s my job now as AG: to protect the safety, well-being and future of our families. I will never back down.”

Becerra was appointed as California's attorney general in 2017 by Gov. Jerry Brown (D) after the former officeholder, Kamala Harris (D), was sworn into the U.S. Senate. He was elected to the position in 2018 with 63.6% of the vote.

Recall supporters

Erin Cruz, Kit Nelson, Michele Rene Guerra, Tanner Carpenter, James R. Wichmann, Eric W. Kelley, David Downing, Dale Tumer, Helga Katharina Brezina, Erik Macgillivray Elness, and Patrick B. Williams are all listed as proponents of the recall against Becerra. The Becerra petition listed the following reasons for recall:

“	Mismanaging of our legal system, hostile policy oversight, wasting public monies and resources, and lack of leadership have led to deterioration of California communities, rise in crime, poor schools, crumbling infrastructure, outrageous rise of costs from gas to utilities, and especially a mass housing crisis, frightening increase in homelessness, and insurmountable debt. Frivolous lawsuits by the State Of California are costing taxpayers millions Of dollars, burdening our once great state. Massive increased public safety risk by continued undermining of the United States Constitution, allowing the erosion of the California Constitution, and defying Federal Immigration laws, allowing laws and policies protecting and helping illegal aliens. Putting Californians and United States Citizens, including our veterans last.	”
—Xavier Becerra Recall Petition Language

Cruz filed an unsuccessful recall against Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in 2019. The recall failed after Cruz turned in 281,917 valid signatures on February 13, 2020. Supporters of that recall needed 1,495,709 signatures to require a recall election.

Recall opponents

After the recall was announced, Becerra made the following statement in response to the effort:

“	In November 2018, 2 of every 3 California voters elected me to serve as our state's Attorney General and chief law enforcement officer. I promised to fight to protect our families from the likes of sex traffickers, corporate cheats, criminal street gangs, and influence peddlers. That's what I've done. Because those are our values. I've prosecuted violent criminals and taken thousands of guns off our streets. I'm taking on opioid manufacturers and vaping companies that poison our youth and families. We defeated predatory financial actors who targeted veterans, seniors and college students. We're protecting Californians' privacy over the internet. And, we're in court fighting for your right to healthcare. But, mostly, we're winning. In court, on the streets, and against Washington. We've protected the air you breathe, the water you drink...your right to privacy...and your children from sexual predators. I've been fighting for California values all my life. That's my job now as AG: to protect the safety, well-being and future of our families. I will never back down.	”
—Xavier Becerra Answer to Recall Statement

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing recall in California

The University of California's Institute for Governmental Studies says this about the process:

“	The first step in a recall effort is the circulation of recall petitions. The process begins with the filing of a notice-of-intent-to-recall petition written in the proper legal language and signed by 65 voters. Once that is accomplished, the recall petition can be circulated in earnest. Petitions for the recall of statewide officers must be signed by voters equal in number to 12% of the last vote for that office, including voters from each of five counties equal in number to 1% of the last vote for the office in that county. Petitions for the recall of state legislators must equal in number to 20% of the last vote for the office. The recall ballot has two components: a yes or no vote for recall, and the names of replacement candidates, selected by the nomination process used in regular elections. The recall measure itself is successful if it passes by a majority. In that case, the replacement candidate with a simple plurality of votes wins the office. If the recall measure fails, the replacement candidate votes are ignored. The language in the recall provision is strictly procedural. Substantive grounds for recalls are not specified. Recalls can be launched to remove corrupt officials, and to remove officials whose policies and performance are found wanting. The recall is but one of several mechanisms for removing public officers. Others include the normal criminal process, impeachment, term limits, and, of course, the next election.	”
—The University of California's Institute for Governmental Studies

The recall was approved for circulation by the California Secretary of State’s office on March 11, 2020. Supporters of this recall had until August 18, 2020, to collect 1,470,760 signatures to require a recall election.

Election history

2018

See also: California Attorney General election, 2018

General election

General election for Attorney General of California

Incumbent Xavier Becerra defeated Steven C. Bailey in the general election for Attorney General of California on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Xavier Becerra (D)	63.6	7,790,743
		Steven C. Bailey (R)	36.4	4,465,587

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 12,256,330 (100.00% precincts reporting)
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Attorney General of California

Incumbent Xavier Becerra and Steven C. Bailey defeated Dave Jones and Eric Early in the primary for Attorney General of California on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Xavier Becerra (D)	45.8	3,024,611
✔		Steven C. Bailey (R)	24.5	1,615,859
		Dave Jones (D)	15.4	1,017,427
		Eric Early (R)	14.3	943,071

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 6,600,968
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

See also

• Recall campaigns in California
• Political recall efforts, 2020

External links

Suggest a link

• Recall Xavier Becerra website
• Office of Attorney General Becerra