Dr. Houman Hemmati Criticizes Newsom's Wildfire Response Amidst New Recall Effort

Los Angeles, California – Dr. Houman David Hemmati, a prominent ophthalmologist and biotech entrepreneur, has emerged as a key figure in the "Saving California" coalition's renewed effort to recall Governor Gavin Newsom. Dr. Hemmati, serving as an Executive Board Member for the coalition, has publicly voiced strong criticisms regarding the state's handling of recent wildfires and the subsequent emergency response, including a widely reported incident of erroneous evacuation alerts. The recall campaign, launched in early 2025, cites the governor's alleged mismanagement across various critical areas.

Dr. Hemmati specifically highlighted concerns over emergency communication during the Los Angeles wildfires. He publicly criticized the issuance of mistaken county-wide evacuation alerts, stating, "This is inexcusable!!! For the second time in an HOUR an erroneous evacuation order immediately follows by a disregard message pushed to EVERY phone in LA!!!! Their incompetence is impossible to quantify!" This incident, which caused widespread anxiety, fueled the coalition's arguments about the state's preparedness and leadership.

The "Saving California" coalition, chaired by Randy Economy, initiated this latest recall attempt following the devastating wildfires. Beyond emergency response, the coalition's petition outlines a broad range of grievances, including California's rising cost of living, soaring crime rates, increasing homelessness, and the drug epidemic. This marks another significant push to unseat Governor Newsom, who successfully fended off a recall effort in 2021.

Governor Newsom's office has responded by framing the recall effort as a partisan attack. His administration asserts that it is focused on leading the state's recovery from the wildfires rather than engaging in political maneuvers. Newsom's team has previously characterized such attempts as being driven by "far-right Trump acolytes" and a waste of taxpayer money, emphasizing the state's investments in fire preparedness and climate change initiatives.

The recall campaign is currently gathering signatures, requiring 1,311,963 valid signatures by early September 2025 to qualify for the ballot. The outcome of this effort hinges on the coalition's ability to mobilize public discontent and secure the necessary support, making Governor Newsom's tenure once again a subject of intense political scrutiny.