A vote for Elder is a vote for Trump. And failing to vote is basically a vote for Elder. So you know what to do, California. #VoteNoOnTheRecall #CaliforniaRecall pic.twitter.com/A2FtHLHJny

— Tristan Snell (@TristanSnell) September 13, 2021

 

If you live in California, please make sure to cast your vote.

California is voting about the future of Governor Gavin Newsom, and there is a lot at stake.

The last time California had a recall in 2003, they ended up with Arnold Schwarzenegger becoming the Governor of California.

Almost 20 years later, the Republican party is, once again, trying to use the mysterious voting laws to take power. This time we are not talking about an actor from Austria; we are talking about a Trump supporter called Larry Elder.

The strategy used by the Republican party in this election is basically a repetition of what we saw last year during the presidential elections—and we all remember how that ended.

Here are three things Elder stole from the Trump playbook:

1. Voter fraud. 

Before the vote even started, Elder was already worried about voter fraud. There is nothing that backs up his fears, but that didn’t stop Trump from spreading “the Big Lie” either.

NEW: GOP frontrunner Larry Elder would not commit to accepting the results of tomorrow’s California recall election when I asked him this morning. pic.twitter.com/374TFyS3Ja

— Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff) September 13, 2021

 

2. Proud boys, anti-vaxxers, and other far-right activists.

These groups drove the movement calling for a recall from the beginning—mask mandates, discussions around vaccination passports, and the recall itself already caused violence in the streets of California throughout the last months.

What are these groups going to do if Elder doesn’t replace Newsom as a Governor?

Banner at Larry Elder / Recall Newsom rally in Long Beach tonight.

“Proud Boys Did Nothing Wrong”
“Free All Political Prisoners Now” pic.twitter.com/9Ioedod4oN

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) September 14, 2021

 

3. Religious groups. 

As I explained in this article, churches should be taxed if they want to play a role in politics. Let’s not even get into the absurdity of Christians supporting a Trump supporter, but it is important to note that religious groups profiting from tax exemptions are not allowed to take sides in politics.

Evangelical Churches Come Out in Force for Larry Elder With Two Days to California Recallhttps://t.co/26pA0qnrFe#RecallGavinNewsom #WeveGotAStateToSave

— Larry Elder (@larryelder) September 13, 2021

 

California is traditionally a state with a Democrat majority, but we should not underestimate the voting power of folks who represent the anti-vaxxer movement and those who still think that Trump won the election last year. These folks are all going to show up and cast their vote.

Instead of arguing with these folks online, I urge you to call a friend in California and remind them to vote. If Elder wins the recall and replaces Newsom, California will abandon mask mandates and become the next Florida.

And even if you don’t particularly like Newsom, you will get your chance next year to vote for a different candidate—but right now, you get to choose between a reasonable person who believes in science and a diehard Trump supporter.

It should be an easy choice.

Please vote!