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Former SD Mayor Kevin Faulconer He Says Wants To Replace Gov. Newsom In 2022
San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer heads to the stage to speak during an election eve party at the U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego on June 5, 2018. (Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)
Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has formally announced he's running for governor of California in 2022.
In a campaign video posted to YouTube Monday, the Republican criticized Governor Gavin Newsom for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Governor Newsom's ruling class has failed us," Faulconer's voiceover says, accusing the governor of making decisions to protest powerful special interest groups and lobbyists.
Faulconer also accuses Newsom of failing to fix the state's homeless crisis, saying that California has become "the land of broken promises."
Organizers of the Recall Newsom effort say they're very close to getting enough signatures to get on the ballot.
It's unclear how that would affect Faulconer's campaign.
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One thing to keep in mind: Newsom's approval ratings have remained high. A Public Policy Institute of California poll in December found that when it came to jobs and the economy Newsom was at 58% approval, with more than half of voters with no party preference saying the approved of the governor.
READ MORE ABOUT NEWSOM RECALL HERE:
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