LOS ANGELES — Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging Californians to stay abreast of the recall election and return mail-in ballots. He’s been getting out in the community in these last few days leading up to the election. He's been joined by diverse members of Congress in an effort to persuade minority voters to stay informed.
Congresswoman Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, met with Newsom at a rally in the heart of Los Angeles’ Chinatown at Mandarin Plaza.
“I am definitely nervous about [the recall],” Chu said. “I've seen the Larry Elder commercials. I've seen Republicans try to get all out and I am nervous. I will be nervous up until the evening of September 14.”
Chu is asking Asian American Pacific Islander communities to vote against removing Gov. Newsom from office.
“Seventy percent of our population are immigrants,” she said. “And so, we do have people that may have a language barrier, but also may not be all that familiar with the American system of electoral politics; they may not realize how much their vote counts, but we need to make sure that our immigrant community fully exercises our voice.”
Historically, Asians have leaned conservative. In 1992, according to the New York Times exit polls, 51% of Asian voters were Republican with 49% Democratic. In 1996, 57% were Republican with 43% Democratic.
But a political shift started and in 2012, Asians voted overwhelmingly for President Barack Obama. In 2020, Asians voted for then-candidate Joe Biden with a 27-point margin between him and Donald Trump. That shift from Republican to Democrat is seen in California, where Biden won three out of every four Asian voters.
Chu said the Asian community is energized now to support Newsom, especially after his swift actions against the recent rise in Asian American hate crimes.
“The trend of Asian Americans going from red to blue is a nationwide phenomenon,” Chu said.
Other Asian American Congress members disagree. Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Huntington Beach, said on Elder’s campaign page that “things in California have never been worse” and that Elder would lead the state through issues of homelessness, cost of living, public education and safety.
"It's about the fact that people are leaving California for the very first time in our state's 170-year history,” Elder said in an interview this week.
During the event at Mandarin Plaza, Spectrum News 1 asked Newsom what he was most worried about if he indeed is recalled.
“It would be Larry Elder,” Newsom said. “He’s running away with it, it’s not even close. Congressman Chu is absolutely right. It's not even close. You're going to have someone who doesn't believe in the minimum wage; someone who doesn't believe women are as smart as men. Someone who doesn't believe in women's right to choose; doesn't believe in corporate taxes. Someone that defended Donald Trump in his hate speech; someone who defended Donald Trump as he attacked the Asian community.”
Conservative support has coalesced around candidate Larry Elder. Elder, a radio talk show host with no previous experience holding office, said, if elected, the first thing he would do would be to remove COVID-19 testing and mask mandates for state workers. He said the governor has handled the pandemic “arrogantly.”
“As you know, they are scared to death,” Elder said at an event this week.
One of the latest polls from Suffolk University out this Wednesday found 58% backing Newsom against a recall, while 41% said they were in favor.