California voters approve new two-step recall election process

California voters approved Proposition 5, changing the state’s recall election process to require two separate elections: one to decide if an official should be removed, and if so, a follow-up election to choose their replacement, CalMatters reported.

The previous system combined both questions into a single election, which critics said caused voter confusion and could lead to winners without majority support. About 52% of voters supported the change, with 48% opposed, according to CalMatters.

Democratic lawmakers backed the measure, arguing the old system was costly and vulnerable to partisan manipulation. The recall process has been used recently by Republicans to challenge Democratic officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom, who survived a recall attempt in 2021 and endorsed the new rules.

The 2021 recall cost taxpayers around $200 million, with campaigns spending an additional $100 million. The new process aims to reduce such expenses and improve democratic outcomes, CalMatters noted.

Support for the measure was strongest in Democratic-leaning areas like San Francisco and Los Angeles counties, while more rural Northern California counties preferred the existing system.

The change came after lawmakers passed Senate Constitutional Amendment 1 in 2024, with advocacy from Democratic leaders including Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Senator Josh Newman, who was himself recalled in 2018.