When you ask Cali voters "do you like Gavin?", most (including democrats) say no. Many Dems will even sign a recall petition on him. But when it comes time for the actual recall, California does the recall and the replacement election simultaneously. In other words, you have to say no to Gavin and yes to a new Governor at the same time. No matter how much they hate Gavin, Dems in this state will never, ever vote for any Republican. Even Larry Elder , most liberal Republican ever, was way too much for them.
Only way Gavin ever gets recalled is if he's being replaced by another lib Democrat. It's a total waste of time.