Mark Barabak: “By the time he left office, Schwarzenegger’s disapproval level reached 70%, which is where it stood for Democrat Gray Davis just before he was kicked out of office.”

“Given that, it’s questionable whether Californians will go the celebrity-governor route again.”

“Perhaps most important, Newsom is no Gray Davis, who scratched out reelection with just 47%. Newsom, by contrast, was elected with 62% of the vote.”

First Read: “You might think it’s in part because of his hypocritical night out at the swanky French Laundry restaurant while he was telling Californians to stay inside. You might also think it’s in part because of frustration over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the related public-health restrictions and the vaccination rollout.”

“And you’d be right.”

“But if you look at the actual recall petition that appears poised to have secured enough signatures, there’s no mention of the virus at all. Instead, that petition — dated on Feb. 20, 2020 — criticizes Newsom with a laundry list of grievances, none having anything to do with the pandemic.”

Caitlyn Jenner (R) has filed her initial paperwork to run for governor of California and will officially announce her bid later today, Axios reports.

“Jenner, a longtime Republican, is seeking to replace Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in a recall election, hoping her celebrity status and name recognition can yield an upset in the nation’s most populous state.”

Los Angeles Times: “Three years after his underwhelming performance in the California governor’s race, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is being talked about as a possible Democratic candidate in the likely recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom.”

“Some political analysts argue that a well-known Democrat should appear on the ballot to blunt the chances of a Republican or fringe candidate winning. Others, including state Democratic leaders, urge a united front and are discouraging Democrats from running. Villaraigosa has criticized the recall. But he’s not publicly ruled out a run, prompting speculation about his plans.”

“Caitlyn Jenner and her political advisers are gathering at her Malibu home next week to discuss her potential candidacy in the upcoming California gubernatorial recall election,” Politico reports.

“Word of Jenner’s potential candidacy has divided top California Republicans — with some dismissing it as a celebrity-driven stunt and others arguing that she would be a strong candidate who could appeal to voters of both parties.”

Former reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner is talking with political consultants as she actively explores a run for governor of California against Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in a recall, Axios reports.

Politico: “Schwarzenegger warns that there are plenty of similarities between California’s history-making populist movements nearly two decades apart, and that elected officials ignored them at their peril.”

Said Schwarzenegger: “It’s pretty much the same atmosphere today as it was then. There was dissatisfaction, to the highest level. And it’s the same with the momentum. Something that sets it off to a higher level, kind of the straw that breaks the camel’s back…like an explosion.”

Politico: “The dance around the recall forces California Democrats to balance two elemental political motivations: self-preservation and opportunism. Any ambitious Democrat who runs and fails would topple off the career ladder into political oblivion. No one has forgotten the implosion of Bustamante after he jumped into the 2003 race. But the recall also offers a tantalizing chance to leapfrog into the governor’s office.”

“Richard Grenell, a top ally of former President Donald Trump, strongly hinted at a run for California governor in a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday morning,” Politico reports.

Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer (R) formally announced that he is running for California governor, either in the regularly scheduled 2022 election or in a possible recall election of incumbent Gavin Newsom (D) later this year, the San Diego Union Tribune reports.

Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer (R) announced he will explore a run against California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).

“You know, I met a Holocaust survivor in Long Beach. He survived concentration camps, and he said this was worse. He’s 90 years old and he had to wait four hours down in Long Beach. Can you imagine that?”

— California gubernatorial candidate John Cox (R), quoted by the Los Angeles Times, comparing long lines at the Sacramento DMV office to the Holocaust.

A new USC/Los Angeles Times poll in California finds Gavin Newsom (D) leading John Cox (R) in the race for governor by a wide margin, 45% to 28%.

Gavin Newsom (D) and John Cox (R) are headed for a face-off in California’s general election to replace Gov. Jerry Brown as governor, the Sacramento Bee reports.

“Newsom led Cox as returns continued to roll in, 34% to 26%. Antonio Villaraigosa, the Democratic former mayor of Los Angeles, had 13%, while Republican Assemblyman Travis Allen drew 10% of votes, followed by the other two major Democrats. State Treasurer John Chiang had 9% and former state schools chief Delaine Eastin was drawing 3% of the vote.”