In 2018, Gavin Newsom was elected California’s governor with nearly 62 percent of the vote. It was the largest margin of victory in a California gubernatorial election in nearly 70 years and cemented Newsom’s reputation as the state’s marquee Democrat. 

But now Newsom faces a recall election, and all of liberal America is asking: What happened? Today, in the second part of our series on California’s recall election, we examine the rise and potential fall of Newsom. 

The former lieutenant governor and San Francisco mayor seems like the perfect official to lead deep-blue California,  but now there’s a chance he might be on the wrong side of a historical political upset.

More reading:

 Read all of the L.A. Times California gubernatorial recall election coverage here

Q&A: What you need to know about the attempt to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom

Column: In California governor recall, Latinos have a chance to cause political ‘desmadre’