LOS ANGELES — Swelling anger over pandemic-related shutdowns drew waves of cash for the campaign to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Just six months ago concerns persisted over the state’s budget, job losses and how or when students would return to the classroom. More than 100 days into a new presidency, a matured vaccine distribution system and a better than expected economy, a once dire picture has come into focus.

In Orange County, a California State University, Fullerton economic forecast anticipates a big return — in part because California’s emergency fund didn’t take the hit many expected. 

What You Need To Know

  • Organizers turned in roughly 1.6 million valid signatures, surpassing the roughly 1.5 required to trigger a recall election

  • Voters have until June 8 to petition the removal of their signature

  • After June 8, the recall will be certified if enough signatures remain

  • Since 1911, there have been 55 attempts to recall a sitting governor, with Gray Davis as the lone victim in 2003

Still, with the recall looming, Republicans and other candidates have been gathering and piecing together their platforms. They may have an uphill battle. In a state where Donald Trump is deeply unpopular and lost by more than five million votes, well-known Republican candidates are few and far between.

The greater concern for the incumbent governor could be a strong progressive who leans further left than he does. But without an obvious candidate matching that description, he may be primed for a successful defense.

Still, political observers say this is the best chance for a Republican to win the governor’s seat. The special election will not require the victor to win a majority of the votes. Instead, the winner only needs the most votes among all the many candidates expected to run. With expectations of a dense Republican field, the cluster of candidates could draw voters away from each other and not Newsom.

At the very least, a high-profile race that’s sure to capture national attention could prime whoever gets quality exposure a shot at the next thing.

For John H. Cox, perhaps it’s a shot at the U.S. House of Representatives. For Caitlyn Jenner, it may be a stronger negotiating position for her next reality TV contract. 

Among the possible candidates is adult film actor Mary Carey, singer Angelyne and James Hanink, the scholar and former professor at Loyola Marymount University. Among the celebrity candidates to express interest is actor Randy Quaid.  

Below is a partial list of candidates, some more serious than others, who have either declared or publicly expressed interest in the job.

John H. Cox — Republican

The San Diego businessman ran in the 2018 gubernatorial race and finished as the runner-up. While he was among the first to announce serious intentions to run, his star has been drowned out by the possibility of several celebrities challenging him. He recently announced plans to campaign alongside a live, 1,000-pound bear. With so many candidates in so large and populous a state, name recognition has been key in the past. 

Kevin Faulconer — Republican

The former San Diego mayor (2014-2020) is one of the more politically experienced candidates in the field. He contributed to the campaign of Gov. Pete Wilson, and as mayor of San Diego, he helped implement policy to move the city toward state-mandated energy efficiency markers.

Caitlyn Jenner — Republican

A member of America’s first family of reality TV stars, Jenner checks some boxes that only Arnold Schwarzenegger could boast. She’s famous around the country, especially in California; she has vigorously supported Donald Trump but later revoked support over transgender rights. Like Schwarzenegger, she has a storied athletic background as a former Olympic athlete and no political experience.

Daniel Mercuri — Republican

Mercuri, 44, was born in Santa Ana and served in the Navy. He attended Los Angeles Valley College, then founded and ran his own production company. He ran in the special election for California’s 25th congressional district after Democrat Katie Hill resigned following sexual harassment allegations. 

Doug Ose — Republican

Ose served as the U.S. Representative for California’s 3rd District from 1999 to 2005. The 65-year-old has long been in California’s Republican political circles. The group Americans for Tax Reform once called him a “hero of the taxpayers.” He voted for a massive tax cut of $1.35 trillion that added child tax credits. He even tried to ban comedian George Carlin’s special “Seven Dirty Words.”