Josh Newman, Democratic State Senator for CA’s 29th Senate District, flipped the 29th District from red to blue 2 years ago, narrowly defeating the Republican candidate. Josh is NOT up for re-election this year. So, in an attempt to improperly overturn that duly won election, the Republicans are waging a recall campaign against him. The LA Times wrote, “Just Say No” to this “abuse of the ballot box.”  TheTimes notes that Newman has done nothing to warrant being tossed from office in the middle of his term. Recalls are meant to address extraordinary situations, such as elected officials who commit felonies or become unhinged. To the contrary, Josh Newman has stellar credentials and a solid track record in the CA Senate. A graduate of Yale and an Army Veteran, before running for office, he started a non-profit, ArmedForce2Workforce, to help young veterans find jobs and rewarding careers. The ostensible reason that Republicans are seeking a recall is because Newman voted, along with a super-majority of the Senate, to impose a 12-cent increase on gas tax, a 20-cent increase on diesel tax, and an increase in car registration fees, in order to rebuild California’s road, bridges and deteriorating infrastructure.  The vote came just after powerful storms had washed out major bridges and threatened the collapse of the Oroville Dam. To be sure that those taxes get used for the reason they were passed, Josh wrote an initiative that is on the June 5 ballot, to require that any funds raised from these taxes are used for roads and transportation. The real reason for the Republican Recall effort is to overturn valid election results and kill the Democratic super-majority in the State Senate.

Message from CA Sen. Henry Stern:  “Josh Newman and I served as Freshman Senators in the California Senate together.  He is sharp, principled and unlikely.  Our Senate Democratic Caucus’ top priority this year is to #ResistTheRecall because we can’t let bullies outbid the democratic will of the people of Orange County.  Get on the bus and come walk with us to defeat the recall effort against Senator Newman and defend California’s progressive majority.”

Host: Senator Henry Stern