In 2021, billionaire philanthropist George Soros made headlines by donating $500,000 to help California Governor Gavin Newsom fight off a Republican-led recall effort.
Soros Backed Anti-Recall Campaign
According to campaign finance records, Soros contributed the large sum to “Stop the Republican Recall of Governor Newsom,” a committee formed to defend Newsom’s position as governor. This followed an earlier donation of the same amount, bringing Soros’ total support to $1 million.
Newsom Faced Strong Opposition in the 2021 Recall
Although Governor Newsom held a financial advantage over his challengers, the 2021 recall election became unexpectedly competitive.
The primary challenger was Larry Elder, a conservative talk radio host, who quickly rose to prominence during the campaign. If elected, Elder would have been the first Black governor in California’s history.
Democrats Linked Elder to Donald Trump
As Elder’s popularity grew, Democrats launched an aggressive messaging campaign tying him to former President Donald Trump. The strategy aimed to energize Democratic voters and paint Elder as too extreme for California.
In a fundraising email, Newsom warned that Elder shared Trump’s political values and would put the state at risk.
“Having him in charge during the delta wave would have caused severe suffering,” Newsom wrote. “His anti-science views would set back our progress on climate change and public health. He would be a disaster for California.”
Newsom’s campaign even referred to Elder as “Larry Trump” in an effort to reinforce the connection.
2021 California Recall Election Took Place on September 14
The California recall election was officially held on September 14, 2021. Newsom ultimately survived the recall, maintaining his role as governor and reinforcing Democratic control in the state.
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