With voting underway in the California recall election, the Humane Society Legislative Fund and animal advocates throughout California are standing fast in opposition to efforts to recall Governor Newsom. As California’s Governor, Newsom has a long track record of supporting the advancement of animal welfare—and has earned the support of humane-minded individuals.
California is home to many animal advocates and has long been at the forefront of the animal protection movement. In 2018, animal voters showed their political might when the Humane Society of the United States spearheaded the passage of Proposition 12, which ushered in the strongest farm animal protection law in the world. Proposition 12 builds on protections first passed by voters in 2008, to ensure that pork, egg, and veal products produced or sold in the California marketplace come from facilities that do not confine animals in tiny cages their entire lives.
Every election can have a profound impact on the wellbeing of animals and those who care for them—this election is no different. California voters have repeatedly elected humane-minded individuals to office, including Governor Newsom. Now, it is time to reaffirm this commitment and vote against the effort to recall him.
During his tenure, Governor Newsom has signed numerous animal protection bills into law. In 2019 alone, he made history by signing two landmark bills: one banning the sale and production of all new fur products in the state, and another prohibiting trophy hunting of bobcats. The fur legislation, which will go into effect in January 2023, is a monumental victory in the Humane Society of the United States' decades-long campaign to end this cruel and unnecessary trade. Other states have introduced similar measures, and we’ll continue working hard with other cities and states to convince them to follow California’s lead. The other bill puts bobcats on a small list of protected species in the Golden State, alongside California’s other wildcat, the mountain lion. Bobcats at present face numerous other threats to their survival, like the recent deadly wildfires and urban sprawl. And each year, hundreds of these animals are killed by trophy hunters in California.
Make no mistake, if proponents of the recall election succeed it could be disastrous for animal advocates. Many of the successes we have realized in California could be unraveled by the stroke of a pen—and that is a risk we simply cannot accept. In 2020, he signed into law a bill which banned the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores, effectively cracking down on the state’s cruel puppy mills. And year after year, California has been the hands-down pacesetter among American states on a number of key animal-related matters, including passing the world’s strongest farm animal protection law and ending the sales of animal tested cosmetics.
California voters should remember to vote NO on the recall against Governor Newsom and encourage their friends and family to do the same. Voters can track their vote-by-mail ballot online.
HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.
Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 455, Washington, DC 20037
