California Recall: What To Know About The Effort To Remove Gavin Newsom Thursday, July 22, 2021 | Sacramento, CA In this June 15, 2021 file photo California Governor Gavin Newsom gestures after a news conference at Universal Studios in Universal City, Calif. Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP Photo Updated July 22 California voters will decide Gov. Gavin Newsom’s fate September 14. Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis set the date for the recall election after the Department of Finance completed a cost estimate July 1 — notifying state lawmakers that the recall would cost state and county election officials $276 million to administer — and the Secretary of State certified the recall petition.