SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California’s largest healthcare workers union has launched a statewide campaign to stop the recall effort against Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Sal Rosselli, president of the National Union of Healthcare Workers, explained that the union is campaigning against the recall so Newsom can focus on fighting the pandemic instead.

What You Need To Know

  • California's largest healthcare workers union has launched a campaign to stop the recall effort against Gov. Newsom

  • The union's president said they're campaigning so the governor can focus on fighting the pandemic

  • So far, the organization has donated $100,000 to the stop the recall effort and started a digital media campaign as well

  • The union has received support from political heavyweights Sen. Bernie Sanders, Dolores Huerta, and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon

"His record is deserving a second term, not a recall."

Rosselli been leading healthcare workers in California since the 1980s and believes Newsom made the safest decision when he shut down the state as soon as COVID-19 broke out last March.

“California was the first state to issue a stay-at-home order and among the first to wear masks outdoors,” Rosselli added.

However, Orrin Heatlie — a Newsom recall organizer — said the governor’s actions during this pandemic have been detrimental to Californians.

"You have people who have been out of work because of his shutdowns who are suffering," said Heatlie, adding that the recall campaign now has more than 2.1 million signatures.

Supporters hope that is enough to trigger an election to unseat the California governor.

“We expect a governor to be responsive and accountable to the people they serve, and it’s clear and apparent this governor has lost sight of what it means to be a public servant,” Heatlie added.

Rosselli disagrees and explained how Californians should first be focused on the economy, reopening schools, and getting people vaccinated before spending millions of dollars on a recall.

“The regular primary for statewide office is just a little over one year from now, so after the recall election later this year, next spring there will be another election. It’s an absolute waste of money,” said Rosselli.

The healthcare workers union launched its Stop Newsom Recall campaign two months ago. So far, the organization has donated $100,000 to the effort and started a digital media campaign to spread their message across the state.

“It’s not that we agree with everything Gavin Newsom has done, but his record on COVID has saved countless lives,” Rosselli added.

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The union has received support from political heavyweights like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Dolores Huerta. California State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, has also endorsed the campaign and donated $10,000 to the cause.

Rosselli applauds Newsom for providing better health care across the state during this pandemic.

"That’s another reason why we oppose this recall," he said. "To accomplish healthcare for all in an equal way, we need to reject this recall so that Gavin Newsom can walk that talk."

He hopes his union’s campaign will be enough to keep the governor from being recalled.

In order to get the recall on the ballot, 1,495,709 valid signatures had to be submitted by March 17. Counties have until April 29 to verify signatures and send them to the Secretary of State’s office for a final review.