Harris, Pelosi backing Newsom amid recall effort

Top Democrats from California are showing support for Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) amid a GOP-led recall effort targeting him as the California Democratic Party holds its annual convention.

In video messages to the convention released by the state party on Saturday, Democrats including Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Vice President Harris, formerly a U.S. senator from California, showed their support for the governor.

“I want to thank our friend and governor, Gavin Newsom, for his leadership,” Harris said at the beginning of her video message, adding, “I support him 100 percent.”

“With the leadership of Gov. Gavin Newsom and [California Democratic Party Chairman] Rusty Hicks, we will continue strengthening our state,” Pelosi added.

Newsom addressed the recall effort in his own video message to the convention, claiming that  “national Republicans and extreme right-wingers, they’re not sitting back. They’re throwing everything they can at their recall power grab all in hopes — all in hopes — of rolling back all the important progress we have made together.”

“We can’t let them win,” he added.

The recall effort seeking to oust Newsom officially reached enough signatures to make the ballot, California’s secretary of state said last week, and it has attracted high-profile potential contenders including former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner.

A poll of California voters last month indicated that Newsom will likely keep his seat, though Republicans in the state have warned that campaign efforts will heat up now that the effort is officially recognized.