Push to recall California governor Gavin Newsom gains steam – but who's behind it?

Effort to oust governor - though unlikely to succeed - reflects political polarization that has widened amid Covid

Across California, hundreds of thousands of people armed with signs and clipboards are gathering outside of local Walmarts, in shopping center parking lots, and on beachside boardwalks, trying to convince their neighbors that the governor needs to go.

An effort to recall Gavin Newsom has gained momentum in recent weeks, as the California governor's approval ratings dipped amid mounting frustration over how the state has handled the Covid pandemic, and the economic slump caused by closures.