Newsom can reference Trump in official voter guide argument against recall, judge says
Newsom can reference Trump in argument against recall, judge says
https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2021/08/04/newsom-can-reference-trump-in-argument-against-recall-judge-says-1389479
OAKLAND — Gov. Gavin Newsom can keep references to Republicans and former President Donald Trump in his official argument against the recall, a judge tentatively ruled Wednesday.
Recall proponents argued that Newsom's allusions were misleading and asked a court to strike them from the state's official voter information guide. But Sacramento Superior Court Judge Laurie M. Earl sided with Newsom in a tentative ruling, finding that the “recall effort was clearly spearheaded by Republicans.”
“Petitioners fail to clearly and convincingly demonstrate that Governor Newsom’s argument against the recall contains outright falsehoods or statements that are objectively untrue,” Earl wrote.
The background: Newsom and allies have tried for months to frame the recall as an insidious maneuver driven by Trump-supporting Republicans. The governor’s official voter guide argument emphasizes that point.
Recall proponents had argued that was deceptive or outright untrue, pointing out that non-Republicans have also backed the recall. But Earl rebutted that claim by pointing out the recall has largely been driven by conservatives, noting that it has drawn the support of both the California Republican Party and national Republicans like Rep. Devin Nunes and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
= new reply since forum marked as read
