Newsom suggests recall motives are racist

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom suggested a racist motive behind the effort to recall him, saying the authors of the petition fear California is becoming less white under his leadership.

Newsom spoke to the press at an Alameda County, California, elementary school. The petition for his recall does not mention race. It states, among other reasons for his removal: "Laws he endorsed favor foreign nationals, in our country illegally, over that of our own citizens." Newsom said his fight to stay as governor "has to do deeply with our values, the things we hold dear and so I'm not just fighting for me, I'm fighting for you." Newsom acknowledged that the issue of his removal would come to a vote.