Mary Carey attends the screening of Magnolia Pictures’ ‘I Give It a Year’ at ArcLight Hollywood on August 1, 2013 in Hollywood, California. Angela Weiss / Getty Images
OAKLAND – If you’re unsure whether the campaign to recall Governor Gavin Newsom will contain a heavy dose of political absurdity, consider this: Former porn actress Mary Carey wants to become California governor.
Again.
The star of such films as ‘Dirty Angels: Welcome to Lust Angeles’ and ‘The Big Bust Theory’ – and a candidate in the 2003 governmental recall – announced she would be joining the field of candidates vying to replace Newsom in likely a recall goes ahead of voters in the fall. Her announced platform to help the entertainment and technology industry and tackle homelessness came with a good dose of puns (“I’m ready to be on top!”).
Days earlier, reality TV star and transgender rights activist Caitlyn Jenner had started seriously investigating her own run for California governor. Jenner, 71, could potentially benefit from ties to national Republicans who could help fundraising and estate inspections. Among those who work with Jenner is Brad Parscale, a former campaign manager for former President Donald Trump.
Is Carey real? She’s about as likely to be the next governor of California as she was when she competed in the 2003 recall – that is, not likely.
But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t get support. She came 10th in the 2003 campaign, garnered about 11,000 votes and finished several thousand votes behind actor Gary Coleman and adult entertainment mogul Larry Flynt. That race was won by movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican who served two terms as California governor.
Despite announcing her offer, Carey’s statement said “she feels the recall is a waste of resources as the governor’s current term expires next year.”
Why does this matter? It reminds us that the Newsom recall is likely to attract dozens of candidates – some serious, some less so – and grow into a political circus. California’s election law sets a relatively low bar of $ 3,916.12 or 7,000 signatures to get on the ballot.
County election officials will report in a few weeks whether or not advocates of the recall have submitted enough signatures to start an election. But Newsom sees a campaign as a done deal, and several Republicans have already run for office, including former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, former Rep. Doug Ose and businessman John Cox.