Los Angeles Fires Fuel Petitions Against California Officials

Over the last week, hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes, and 24 deaths have been reported across the Los Angeles area in Southern California as fires, fueled by strong winds and dry weather, have ravaged the region. The fires have prompted questions about leadership in California, with recent petitions calling for the recall of the up-and-coming governor and the resignation of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

The largest recall petition targeting Gov. Gavin Newsom on Change.org currently has more than 36,000 signatures. The issues raised in the petition are not specific to the current wildfires but include general complaints such as, “Have you had enough of the insanity?” and references to “fringe agendas.”

A larger petition, titled “Demand the Immediate Resignation of Mayor Karen Bass,” has gained more traction, with more than 126,000 signatures. The petition specifically criticizes Bass for “her gross mismanagement and failure to effectively respond to the devastating 2025 fires in and around the city of Los Angeles.” It also calls for an investigation into disaster preparedness failures, accountability for how taxpayer funds were used, and a detailed plan for future disaster preparedness.

Neither petition qualifies as an official recall petition, as neither was submitted through the formal recall process, and the signatures are not limited to registered voters. To officially recall Newsom, organizers would need valid signatures from 12% of the 11 million registered voters who participated in the last California gubernatorial election. For Bass, a recall petition would require signatures from 10% of the 2 million registered voters in the city of Los Angeles.

A recall of Newsom is less likely to succeed, as he has only two years remaining in his term. However, Bass, who has the potential to serve six more years, may face a greater likelihood of recall efforts gaining momentum.

Recent polling shows Newsom with high unfavorable ratings. A poll by AtlasIntel found 49% of respondents viewed him unfavorably, compared to 27% who viewed him favorably. Despite his negative ratings, Newsom retains strong support among Democrats, which explains his 18-point victory in the 2022 gubernatorial race despite his unpopularity on a national level.

Newsom is also considered a potential presidential nominee for the Democratic Party in 2028. Following Vice President Kamala Harris, who leads early polls due to heightened name recognition, Newsom ranked second in two November polls conducted by Emerson College and Echelon Insights. Whether Newsom’s public criticism persists as the fires subside could determine its impact on his future electoral success.