Both Elder and Paffrath seem like unusually poor choices to be Governor. (Amusing(?) how right-wingers are delighted to hear that "blue states" might get incompetent government.)
Regardless of how this vote turns out, you do have to admit that the current management of California sucks in a most horrible way right now. It is in the national news that even someone like myself from Missouri can notice it is not without merit that this recall is taking place. As we speak, long term business are picking up and moving from California to Florida and Texas. And the California population is declining too, for its first time in history mostly due to homelessness and the high cost of living. In case you can not figure this out...this is bad.
And whether you want to admit or not, the ultra high cost of living the average Californian can no longer afford were caused by liberalism. Meaning the best cure is to be less liberal, although I have no idea about the other choices. But they could probably not be any worse than what is now in place.