Golden State Warriors minority owner Chamath Palihapitiya announced his plans Tuesday to run for Governor of California amid recall efforts of Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The 44-year-old minority stakeholder of the NBA team tweeted simply, “It’s on. #RecallGavinNewsom.” Palihapitiya also included a link to his website declaring his plans to run for the top seat in the state.(RELATED: REPORT: ‘California Hiding Key Coronavirus Data Because It Would ‘Mislead’ The Public’)
It’s on. #RecallGavinNewsom https://t.co/r8Cwd4szrn
— Chamath Palihapitiya (@chamath) January 26, 2021
“California is a mess — it’s too expensive, our teachers are underpaid, and our schools aren’t good enough,” a statement on the “Chamath for California Governor” website read. (RELATED: Judge Says Decision To Ban Outdoor Dining In Los Angeles Was ‘Arbitrary’ And Lacked ‘Risk-Benefit Analysis’)
The website included suggestions like paying teachers in the state a “minimum of $70k to educate” kids, giving students “a free voucher to pick any school they want to attend” and paying people to live in the state, with “$2,000 for every new child born” there.
He followed up his post on Twitter with a message that read, “Wet your beak California. 0% taxes, best paid teachers in the country and a bonanza of climate friendly jobs.”
Wet your beak California. 0% taxes, best paid teachers in the country and a bonanza of climate friendly jobs. https://t.co/gfoPSXziuL pic.twitter.com/3QcqZUfFoI
— Chamath Palihapitiya (@chamath) January 26, 2021
As of Monday, 1.2 million signatures have been collected in a recall campaign to remove the incumbent Democrat CA Governor. A total of 1.5 million signatures will need to be collected by March 17 to get it on the ballot for a recall election.
It comes following outrage against Newsom‘s enforcement, during the pandemic, of stay-at-home orders, lockdowns and suspending outdoor dinning that has forced businesses to close, The Hill reported.