Early voting return numbers show that the effort to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom is in trouble statewide, as well as on the Central and South Coasts.
The initial statewide numbers show the no vote on the recall is leading by a 68% to 32% margin.
In Ventura County, 207,000 votes have been counted, with 64% of them no votes, and 36% yes. The margin in Santa Barbara County is 68% no, to 32% yes. And, in San Luis Obispo County, with 52,000 ballots counted, the margin is 61% no, and 39% yes.
The ballots counted are largely ones which were mailed, or dropped in advance at drop boxes. As of 8:30 p.m., we are still waiting for ballots which were cast today to be counted. There were more than 150 polling places in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties.
Of the 46 candidates seeking to replace the governor if he is recalled, Republican Larry Elder is the leader in all three counties in the Tri-Counties. Democrat Kevin Paffrath of Ventura is in second place in the early vote count in our region.
