Nearly half of Californians hold governor Gavin Newsom responsible for the damage left by the wildfires in the Los Angeles area, a damning poll has revealed.
According to new DailyMail.com polling, 47 percent of Californians think the Democrat governor is a great deal responsible or somewhat responsible for the damage left by the flames.
Meanwhile 38 percent think Newsom is not at all responsible or not very responsible for the dystopian scenes.
President-elect Donald Trump was among those who blame Newsom, claiming his forest management policies and fish conservation efforts are to blame for fire hydrants running dry in some urban areas.
Californians also blame LA mayor Karen Bass for the situation, with 48 percent of them saying they think she is a great deal responsible or somewhat responsible.
Bass was halfway around the globe, on a trip to Ghana as part of a presidential delegation, when the fires broke out.
Some, however, hold the federal government accountable, with 27 percent saying it is president Joe Biden who holds the blame.
The poll comes as millions of Southern Californians are on edge as another round of dangerous fire weather is forecast for the Los Angeles area, with the National Weather Service warning of a Particularly Dangerous Situation on Wednesday.
According to new DailyMail.com polling, nearly half of Californians think governor Gavin Newsom is a great deal responsible or somewhat responsible for the damage left by the flames
According to new DailyMail.com polling, 47 percent of Californians think governor Gavin Newsom is a great deal responsible or somewhat responsible for the damage left by the flames
The fires have killed at least 25 and destroyed thousands of homes.
As of Wednesday, more than 90,000 households without electricity as utilities shut off power to prevent their lines from sparking new blazes.
Newsom has faced calls to resign for the devastating handling of the catastrophe, with everyone from Donald Trump to Hollywood stars slamming his and Mayor Bass’ lack of leadership.
Saving California, a group that touts itself as a ‘non-partisan coalition of working families, professionals and community advocates’ have launched another recall against Newsom.
A spokesperson for Newsom told Newsweek that the governor is ‘100 percent focused on the fires, ongoing rescue efforts and the recovery process – not politics.’
‘Readers still should have the context that the same group of far-right Trump acolytes have launched six different recall attempts against the governor since he’s taken office, each of which have failed spectacularly.
‘Even Republican Party leaders have criticized these repeated attempts as a brazen campaign finance ‘grift,’ and the recall organizers have been sued by their own donors for pocketing funds raised previously.’
Newsom faced and won his first recall battle – which was launched for his response to the COVID-19 pandemic – for California in September 2021 in a landslide victory.
Californians also blame LA mayor Karen Bass for the situation, with 48 percent of them saying they think she is a great deal responsible or somewhat responsible
At least 25 people have died and 12,000 buildings burned to the ground in multiple fires across Los Angeles this month
Firefighters in the stricken Palisades area have been overwhelmed by the rapidly spreading fires, amid scrutiny on the state’s response
‘The fires are still raging in L.A.,’ Trump posted to Truth Social on Sunday morning. ‘The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out.’
‘Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost,’ he lamented. ‘There is death all over the place.’
‘This is one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our Country. They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?’ he questioned, placing the blame on Newsom and other Democratic politicians in California.
Newsom ordered an investigation Friday into the city’s Department of Water and Power over the loss of water pressure. An online petition demanding Bass’ resignation garnered 33,000 signatures.
He told NBC News correspondent Jacob Soboroff that his team is trying to get to the bottom of ‘what the hell happened’ to cause the water systems to fail.
He also fought back against Trump’s accusations, saying the Republican was spreading ‘disinformation,’ and said he hopes the incoming administration will be able to work with him with an ‘open hand, not a closed fist.’
The governor also said he invited Trump to survey the damage from the LA wildfires but that he has not yet responded to that invitation.