Larry Elder Announces Bid For California Governor, While Judge Rules Newsom Can’t Put His Democratic Party Affiliation on the Ballot

Conservative radio talk show host Larry Elder entered California’s Sept. 14 recall election yesterday, as the field expands to take on Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Newsom got news yesterday as well, however, as a judge ruled that he was not able to put his Democratic party affiliation on the ballot, after a filing mistake was made by his campaign counsel Tom Willis.

In a tweet making the announcement, the 69-year-old attorney encouraged supporters to visit his website and said, “#WeveGotAStateToSave.”

https://t.co/mnvU6rOkTD#WeveGotAStateToSave pic.twitter.com/bQvoEMHQ7D

— Larry Elder (@larryelder) July 13, 2021

In an interview with The Associated Press, Elder, who is running his first campaign, said that he was initially reluctant to become a candidate in a state where Democrats hold a lopsided grip on power in Sacramento and fellow conservative radio host Dennis Prager was among supporters who encouraged him to run.

Elder stated he decided to enter the race after witnessing California’s out-of-control homeless crisis, spiking crime rates, looming water and power shortages, and whipsaw coronavirus lockdowns.

“I have common sense. I have good judgment. I’m born and raised here. I think I understand the state,” Elder noted.

“I know it’s a long shot,” Elder added, but he said he was driven by a “fire in the belly to see if I can do something … to move the needle in the right direction.”

Elder said that being a black man in the race counters Newsom’s narrative that the recall is an “effort led by (former President Donald) Trump white nationalists” and asked, “Do I look like a white nationalist?”

Conservative Candace Owens has been critical of one of Elder’s Republican opponents in the recall election, Caitlin Jenner.

“You are correct that harassing people for their existence, no matter what side of the aisle you are on, is patently wrong. That said, it doesn’t take a “warden of Christianity” to know that supporting abortion and promoting transgenderism is antithetical to the Bible,” Owens said in a tweet yesterday.

You are correct that harassing people for their existence, no matter what side of the aisle you are on, is patently wrong.

That said, it doesn’t take a “warden of Christianity” to know that supporting abortion and promoting transgenderism is antithetical to the Bible. https://t.co/FYHQZEq85U

— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) July 12, 2021

While Owens has not signaled support or an endorsement for Elder, the two took a picture together at an event last month in Birmingham, Alabama.

#BLEXIT, Birmigham, Alabama, with the incandescent @RealCandaceO #BLEXIT#WeveGotACountryToSave pic.twitter.com/lF8Tprq9QM

— Larry Elder (@larryelder) June 28, 2021

As for Newsom, Sacramento County Superior Court Judge James Arguelle made the ruling on whether his name could appear as representing the Democrat party and so it appears that he is now out of options in that regard.

The California Democratic Party said that the ruling would not change their strategy and declared in a tweet that it “doesn’t change the facts: California Democrats are united behind Governor (Gavin Newsom), We’re ready to organize to beat the Republican Recall attempt.”

A May poll from Public Policy Institute of California, however, shows the incumbent governor holds a comfortable lead in terms of retention and found 57% of likely voters would support Newsom in the election while 40% would vote to recall him.