Efforts to recall California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom are subject to the winds of time and time is on Newsom's side. The deadline to submit 1.5 million valid signatures of registered voters to the state is March 17; nearly 2 million signatures must be submitted to allow for many invalid signatures. Time is tight.
If successful, the recall ballot will contain two questions. The first is a yes-or-no vote: "Shall Gavin Newsom be recalled (removed) from the office of Governor?" The second part is a list of candidates to replace him if the recall succeeds. If more than 50% of voters vote yes on the first question, the candidate with the most votes on the second portion becomes governor.