What if Gray Davis resigns before the Oct. 7 recall election? How would that affect the election?
According to election law experts in the secretary of state’s office, the recall election will happen, regardless of whether Gray Davis is still in office on election day.
If Davis resigns before then, Lt. Gov Cruz Bustamante will automatically succeed him.
But the election statutes are fuzzy on what would happen after Oct. 7. The consensus view is that Bustamante would fill the remainder of Davis’ term if the recall effort failed. If the recall succeeded, then the candidate with the most votes -- who could be Bustamante himself -- would be installed as the elected governor to fill the remainder of Davis’ term.
Davis has given no indication that he plans to resign from office.
*
This is the first in a series of questions and answers on the recall. Submit questions by e-mail: metrodesk@latimes.com
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
