It's a legacy of the progressive era in American politics.

Voters in California get to recall state officeholders if they don't like the job they're

doing without waiting for the next election.

This act of direct democracy has been tried many times since the state's recall law was

first enacted in 1913, rarely succeeding.

But it's facing one of its biggest tests this week when Gavin Newsom, the liberal democratic

governor who was elected by a whopping 24% margin in 2018, will face a recall fueled by

discontent among some voters over his handling of the COVID pandemic and the state's economic

roles.

Newsom handed recall proponents a gift last year, when, while publicly urging citizens

to wear masks, he was photographed maskless indoors at a fancy Napa Valley restaurant

attending a birthday party for a Sacramento lobbyist buddy.

The more recently polls show he has recovered, even while a conservative Trump supporter

and Fox News regular, Larry Elder, has shot to the top of the list of candidates seeking

to replace him.

We'll sort out the confusing details of California's recall election with Yahoo News political correspondent

Andrew Romano and with Dan Schur, a former GOP strategist turned academic who has studied

the recall movement on this episode of Skullthuggery.

I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United

States.

I will to the best of my building.

Reserve, protect and defend.

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