The 2021 gubernatorial recall election that ended with Gov. Gavin Newsom keeping his job by a wide margin cost California taxpayers $200 million.
California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber released the final tally of costs to the state Legislature on Thursday.
In a letter addressed to the California Department of Finance and the chairs of the Assembly and Senate budget committees, Weber said the statewide cost of the election was $200,241,680, which included $174,059,031 in county costs and $26,182,649 in costs to the Secretary of State’s Office.
“While less than estimated, the costs to California to conduct a statewide recall election still added up to over $200 million,” said Weber. “This was a substantial cost to taxpayers and a significant disruption to governing the state.”
“This price tag confirms that it is necessary to revisit the recall process and to pursue effective reforms,” she added.
The vote on Sept. 14 was 62% to 38%, or 7.9 million votes to 4.9 million, to keep Newsom as Governor. The top Republican replacement candidate, radio talk show host Larry Elder, received 3.6 million votes.
The effort to oust Newsom, a Democrat, came after a Republican-led petition drive that was given extra time because of the coronavirus pandemic.
