“For weeks, legal scholars have debated whether the recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom could be found unconstitutional if Newsom failed to realize a “no recall” majority of the ballots cast and was ousted by a candidate who received fewer votes than he did,” the Los Angeles Times reports.

“Although it’s impossible to predict how courts will rule, many experts say the current recall process has long survived legal challenges, and probably would again, even if a fringe candidate won on Sept. 14 and became governor with a minority of overall votes.”

If that happens, the state legislature could impeach the replacement candidate — likely conservative talk show host Larry Elder (R), according to polls — which would make Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis (D) the new governor.

Politico: “A visit by Harris could also help rally California Democrats to fill out their ballots, particularly the critical Democratic voting bloc of women of color. While Harris’ poll numbers have slipped in recent months, she retains deep support in the Bay Area, where she launched her political career as a prosecutor.”

A new poll from Roanoke College gives former Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) a 46% to 38% lead over Glenn Youngkin (R).

Another poll from Virginia Commonwealth University gives McAuliffe a 40% to 37% lead over Youngkin.

“California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is using increasingly stark language as he campaigns in the final month of a tight recall election, calling it ‘a matter of life or death’ that voters keep him in office and he is increasingly targeting a single Republican candidate: talk show host Larry Elder,” CBS San Francisco reports.

“A Republican investment analyst on Tuesday won a special election to fill a vacant seat in the Connecticut state Senate, the first state legislative seat to flip parties in the seven months since President Biden took office,” The Hill reports.

The FiveThirtyEight polling average in California shows Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) barely surviving the recall effort, 48.8% to 47.6%.

A new CBS News/YouGov poll finds that 52% of likely California voters will vote “no” on recalling Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), with 48% voting “yes” to recall.

Los Angeles Times: “With voters beginning to receive ballots and election day less than a month away, California’s historic recall campaign kicked into high gear with Gov. Gavin Newsom rallying the crucial labor and Latino vote and his Republican challengers stepping up their attacks.”

“The ground campaign is expected to be crucial in the coming weeks, with Democrats acknowledging they need a big turnout in the special election to blunt motivated Republicans.”

San Francisco Chronicle: “With ballots already arriving in the mail… Newsom said that the campaign had already invested $6.5 million in the largest get-out-the-vote effort ‘that’s ever been advanced in the state’s history.’”

“Newsom said the campaign has sent 17 million text messages reminding voters of the recall, and has 5,200 volunteers in the field. It is ramping up door-to-door canvassing and phone banking along with the state’s largest labor unions and other left-leaning organizations.”

A new WIVB/Emerson College poll finds that if the Buffalo mayoral election was held today, a majority of likely voters say they would vote for incumbent mayor Byron Brown over Democratic nominee India Walton, 50% to 40%.

Brown is running as a write-in candidate after losing the June primary election to Walton in a shocking upset.

However, Walton will be the only candidate actually listed on the ballot on Nov. 2.

A new Public Policy Polling survey in Florida’s Democratic primary for governor shows Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) with a small lead over Rep. Charlie Crist (D), 36% to 33% with 30% still undecided.

Virginia gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin (R) failed to respond to a debate invitation by Norfolk State University, which former Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) had already accepted, the Virginia Scope reports.

Youngkin has refused multiple debate invitations, leaving only two potential debates between the two candidates.