Re:Why not just step down? (Score 1)

The recall election would go on. Div. 11, Sect. 11302 of the California Election Code: "Vacancy after petition is filed: If a vacancy occurs in an office after a recall petition is filed against the vacating officer, the recall election shall nevertheless proceed. The vacancy shall be filled as provided by law, but any person appointed to fill the vacancy shall hold office only until a successor is selected in accordance with Article 4 (commencing with Section 11360) or Article 5 (commencing with Section 11380), and the successor qualifies for that office." Article 5 specifically pertains to non-local officials (Article 4 covers recall procedures in general). It covers what you probably already know. If 50% or more of votes are "yes" (to recall), the person in office is out. So what would happen is that if Davis stepped down, Bustamante would become governor, and the recall election would then basically pertain to him - he's either in or out, based upon the outcome of the vote. There ain't no way to stop this now (short of court intervention, which appears like it won't happen; they did rule that people could vote against the recall AND for a candidate, but as it stands now, that will be the extent of their intervention on this).