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IN HIS FIRST INTERVIEW SINCE WINNING CALIFORNIA'S RECALL ELECTION, GOV. NEWSOM TELLS CBS NEWS’ MAJOR GARRETT VOTERS “UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS AT STAKE” AND THAT “THE CONSEQUENCES WERE THAT CLEAR”

 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A CLIP

 

MORE OF CBS NEWS' EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WILL AIR

TOMORROW, SEPT. 16 ON "CBS MORNINGS"

 

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In his first interview since winning his state’s recall election, California Gov. Gavin Newsom tells CBS News’ Major Garrett voters “understood what was at stake” and that “the consequences were that clear.” Watch the preview released tonight here.

*RUSH TRANSCRIPT*

MAJOR GARRETT: For national Democrats, complete this sentence for me - your recall victory means?

GOV. NEWSOM: That we need to stiffen our spines and lean in, to keeping people safe and healthy. That we shouldn't be timid in trying to protect people's lives and mitigate the spread and transmission of this disease. That it's the right thing to do, but it's also a motivating factor in this election. This is an off-year, off-month election, and the turnout was off the charts because people were motivated, because they understood what was at stake - the consequences were that clear.

NEWSOM: And Democrats, I hope, are paying attention.

GARRETT: Do national Democrats have a timidity problem?

NEWSOM: This has been hard. Look, I was recalled in no small degree because of our approach to this pandemic.

NEWSOM: So, what I'm saying here is, be affirmative. Don't be timid. Lean in. Because at the end of the day, it's not just about formal authority of setting the tone and tenor on masks – on vaccines and masks. But it's the moral authority that we have. That we're on the right side of history and we're doing the right thing to save people's lives.

Click here to watch a preview of the interview and read more on CBSNews.com. Catch the preview streaming tonight on CBSN, CBS News 24/7 streaming service, and on CBS News Radio. More of the interview will air tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 16 on CBS MORNINGS (7:00-9:00 AM, ET).

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