Gov. Gavin Newsom (R) will face a recall election later this year, the California Secretary of State confirmed on Wednesday.

Why is this important: This will be the second time in California history that a gubernatorial recall campaign has been successfully elected, out of a total of 55 attempts, according to Bloomberg.

The state of play: The effort to recall Newsom has gathered pace, with the Republican-led move reaching enough votes in April to go to the polls.

• As per state law, a 30-day window between April 26 and June 8 was given to voters to withdraw signatures on recall petitions if they wished.
• 43 signatures were withdrawn statewide, leaving a certified total of 1,719,900 verified signatures.

The big picture: While Newsom’s approval rating performed well at the start of the pandemic, changing public health policies frustrated some Californians, according to the New York Times.

• In November 2020, the governor came under fire after being photographed at a dinner at French Laundry, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Napa County, as cases of COVID-19 rose statewide.
• Signatures on the recall petition increased after that dinner, according to the Times.

Newsom is also said to have misled the public on the progress his office is making in strengthening forest fire prevention, according to an investigative report from CapRadio and NPR’s California newsroom.

• Our thought bubble via Andrew Freedman of Axios: Californians are now experiencing the start of another potentially historic fire season amid extreme drought, both of which are being made worse by climate change.