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Longshot recall candidate Kiley may emerge as a GOP leader

Assemblyman Kevin Kiley is burnishing his conservative reputation and could emerge as a future leader in the downtrodden state GOP.

Credit: AP

FILE — In this July 22, 2021 file photo Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, of Rocklin, a Republican candidate for governor in the Sept. 14 recall election, campaigns for school choice outside a charter school in Sacramento, Calif. Kiley has been one of Gov. Gavin Newsom's chief critics in the Legislature, he is largely unknown outside of his Northern California Assembly district. Having raised close to $1 million he lacks the millions of dollars needed to run an effective campaign in California's expensive media markets, but is often grouped among the top tier of the 46 candidates vying to become governor. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A 36-year-old Republican lawmaker is a longshot in California's upcoming recall election targeting Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. But Assemblyman Kevin Kiley is burnishing his conservative reputation and could emerge as a future leader in the downtrodden state GOP.

The former teacher and prosecutor from the Sacramento area was elected to the Assembly in 2016.

During the pandemic, Kiley emerged as one of Newsom's chief critics and that has given him a devoted but relatively small following.

Kiley doesn't have the money to mount the kind of statewide media campaign that can raise his name recognition in a Republican field that includes talk radio host Larry Elder, Caitlyn Jenner and former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer.

Read full story from Associated Press HERE.

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