California recall: Newsom fights for survival as historic crises fuel extraordinary race

The Democratic governor says Covid and western fires illuminate the stark choice voters must make

Ballots were already being cast in California's gubernatorial recall election when Gavin Newsom, visiting a pop-up clinic in Oakland, once again implored his constituents to get the Covid-19 vaccine. The week before, the governor had visited the site of the devastating Caldor fire, which had threatened the resort town of South Lake Tahoe and destroyed nearly 1,000 structures.

These ongoing calamities - a once-in-a-generation health crisis and unprecedented challenges posed drought and extreme weather - were, largely, what gave rise to the recall effort. Having won his seat by a historic margin in 2018, Newsom has found himself in a peculiar position. Still broadly popular in the state, he's fending off challenges from Republicans and rightwingers who are more out of touch with most residents than the governor at his worst. Extraordinary crises have given rise to an extraordinary recall - one that could trigger extraordinary political upheaval in one of America's bluest states.