Gov. Gavin Newsom fights for his job in high-stakes, expensive California recall election

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom ended his campaign to retain his job in a recall election with a final push from U.S. President Joe Biden, who warned that the outcome of the contest could shape the country's direction on the pandemic, reproductive rights and the battle to slow climate change.

Speaking to hundreds of cheering supporters during a twilight rally in the coastal city of Long Beach, south of Los Angeles, Biden on Monday referred to the leading Republican candidate Larry Elder, a longtime radio host, as "the clone of Donald Trump."

"Can you imagine him being governor of this state?" Biden asked, as the crowd responded with shouts of "No, no!"

"You can't let that happen. There is too much at stake."

Newsom, 53, needs a majority vote in Tuesday's recall vote to hold on to his job as leader of one of the world's biggest economies, and the recall result could have national implications just over a year ahead of U.S. Congress midterm elections. The winner could potentially have the authority to appoint someone should Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 88, not be able to finish her term in D.C., though Feinstein has indicated she plans to serve at least through the 2024 election.

Newsom is the fourth governor in U.S. history and the second in California to face a recall, and a loss would seem to irreparably harm any presidential ambitions he might possess. Californians removed Democratic Gov. Gray Davis in 2003 and replaced him with Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Since Newsom took office in 2019 after taking 62 per cent of the last election's vote, he's faced a half-dozen recall efforts overall, which Democrats have characterized as being indicative of a process that is prone to abuse and doesn't reflect the will of the majority. Republicans secured the needed signatures in this effort to trigger an election — a formula that is equivalent of just 12 per cent of the votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election, or about 1.5 million votes overall.