Gov. Gavin Newsom wasn't expected to face an election until 2022. Critics of his response to the COVID-19 pandemic and liberal policies, however, succeeded in collecting more than the 1.5 million signatures needed for a recall election.Although there are more steps remaining before the election is officially certified, the signatures collection and verification were the biggest hurdles. The election will likely take place in the fall.In 2003, when Democrat Gray Davis was recalled and Arnold Schwarzenegger claimed the governorship in a Hollywood blockbuster of an election, voters were faced with a ballot of 135 candidates. The list included unlikely characters, such as adult film actress Mary Carey, former child actor Gary Coleman, columnist Arianna Huffington and Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt. Sacramento bounty hunter Leonard Padilla, a frequent candidate for office, was also on the list.In 2021, there's an expectation that the list of candidates will be long. Keep in mind that it's not that difficult to get on the ballot. U.S. citizen, check. Registered voter, check. Pay a $4,000 filing fee and collect 7,000 signatures, and essentially you're an official candidate. That low bar means the ballot is a ripe platform for anyone who might desire some notoriety or publicity.In the meantime, several prominent Republicans have said they plan to run in the race to replace Newsom:John CoxJohn Cox is a Republican businessman who lost in a landslide to Newsom in 2018. Cox, an attorney, became a multimillionaire while moving through a series of professions — accountant, part-owner of a potato chip company, investment manager and real estate magnate — before turning to politics.In announcing his intent to run, Cox told KCRA 3 that addressing housing costs in California is "the biggest thing" he would first tackle."All of the issues I talked about in 2018: housing, homelessness, water, electricity, public safety, fires -- they're all worse," Cox said of when he ran for governor in 2018 compared to now.Cox made headlines earlier this year for a Sacramento campaign stop with a 1,000-pound live bear named Tag. Kevin FaulconerKevin Faulconer, a moderate Republican who is pro-choice, is the former mayor of San Diego. He says his campaign is focused on a range of quality-of-life issues, including homelessness. Faulconer says that in a state with nearly twice as many Democrats as Republicans, "I think you win by addition.""I think the more inclusive you are, the better you are going to govern and get results," he told KCRA 3 earlier this year.He has also said he wants to eliminate California's state income tax for individuals making up to $50,000 and households up to $100,000 as part of a proposal to make the state more affordable for families and the middle class.Caitlyn JennerCaitlyn Jenner is a reality TV star and transgender woman who decades before her transition won the men's Olympic decathlon in 1976.In her first interview with a Northern California television station, KCRA 3 anchor Edie Lambert sat down with Jenner this month to talk about her campaign for California governor. She told KCRA 3 she thinks it's hard to define herself politically."As far as politically, I am an inclusive Republican. I've always been on the Republican side because I believe in conservative economic values. I believe in lower taxes, less regulations, a pro-business environment," Jenner said.Jenner made headlines in recent years with her ties to former President Donald Trump, who lost to Joe Biden in California by over 5 million votes.Doug OseDoug Ose is a former congressman and businessman from the Sacramento region who has been critical of Newsom for his coronavirus restrictions on businesses and the public.In announcing his candidacy earlier this year, Ose said he was ready to work across party lines to reopen schools and businesses in a state upended by the coronavirus while taking on the long-running homelessness crisis."Gov. Newsom has shown himself to be incompetent at establishing a plan by which we can reopen the economy and get kids in school — period, end of story. That is grounds for recall," Ose said.What are the next steps in the recall effort?June 8 marks the final day for those who signed the recall petition to withdraw their names if they so choose. If there are still enough valid signatures after this process, which is believed to be very likely, the recall election moves forward.After that, the California Department of Finance will have up to 30 business days to estimate the cost of a special election. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee will then have 30 days to review the estimate. After that, the California secretary of state will certify the signatures and the lieutenant governor must schedule a recall election between 60 to 80 days later.— The Associated Press contributed reporting.