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| Larry Elder |
Conservative radio talk show host Larry Elder entered California's Sept. 14 recall election on Monday, bringing a well-known voice on the political right to a muddled Republican field trying to oust first-term Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Elder, whose show is nationally syndicated via the Salem Radio Network, is a regular guest on Fox News. He's dubbed the "sage from South Central" on his website, a reference to the area of Los Angeles where he grew up.
In an interview with The Associated Press, the 69-year-old attorney said he initially was reluctant to become a candidate in a state where Democrats hold a lopsided grip on power in Sacramento. Among supporters who encouraged him to run: fellow conservative radio host Dennis Prager.
Elder stands out as a Black man in a national GOP dominated by whites. He said that reality counters Newsom's narrative that the recall is an "effort led by (former President Donald) Trump white nationalists."
"Do I look like a white nationalist?" Elder asked.
Elder's entry into the race immediately reorders a large GOP field that includes former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer; businessman John Cox, who was defeated by Newsom in 2018; state Assemblyman Kevin Kiley; reality TV personality and former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner; and former U.S. Rep. Doug Ose. He also brings more celebrity sparkle to a race that has lacked a clear front-runner.
"I think this is a race between Gavin Newsom and me. I don't think about the other candidates," Elder said, arguing that his name recognition, outsider status and communication skills separate him from the crowd.
Elder's biography on the website for his radio show calls him "unafraid to take on liberals and the Black Lives Matter movement." He calls for "returning to the bedrock Constitutional principles of limited government and maximum personal responsibility."
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