Daniel Watts For Governor

The list of California gubernatorial candidates for the September recall election is taking shape. Of the current 41 candidates, 21 are Republicans, 9 have No Party Preference, 8 are Democrats, 2 are Greens, and one is a Libertarian. Three of the candidates also ran in the 2003 Gubernatorial Recall Election. 

I've been resisting the temptation to run for Governor again. I won't run though, because I support Governor Gavin Newsom. (In 2003, I was opposed to Governor Gray Davis). 

The ballot will be divided into two parts. The first part asks whether Newsom should be removed. The second part lists the candidates who would vie to replace Newsom in the event he is removed. I urge everyone to vote no on the first part of the ballot. 

The second part of the ballot is more complicated. Republicans are excited by the recall, so there are many Republicans running, including some of the slimiest politicians in the state. With so many candidates, Republicans are dividing their support, creating conditions that Democratic candidates can exploit provided just a few Democrats run. 

Ideally, there would be just one establishment Democratic candidate that Democratic voters could rally to. I think that candidate should be Lieutenant Governor Elena Kounalakis: someone who could be trusted to continue Gavin Newsom's policies in the event he is recalled. Nevertheless, to date, she is not running. I'm afraid current establishment Democrats may be just as pig-stupid as establishment Democrats were in 2003. In both recall elections, establishment Democrats actively-discouraged any of their number from running at all. 

Still, there MUST be at least one Democratic candidate that Democratic voters can rally to on the second part of the recall ballot. In 2003, Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante finally bucked the rest of the establishment Democrats for his unsuccessful run. Will anyone do so in 2021? 

So, if the establishment Democrats won't do the job, one or several of the other Democrats running must do the job. So, are any of the eight current Democratic candidates up to the job? 

Fortunately, one candidate has the background and training suitable to succeed Gavin Newsom in the event the recall is successful. Daniel Watts has the competence, training, and background to be that successful gubernatorial candidate in the event Newsom falters. Daniel was among the candidates that ran in 2003. 

I urge everyone to vote for Daniel Watts on the second part of the September recall ballot.