California Gov. Gavin Newsom invited Major League Baseball to consider his state as the location for its 2021 All-Star Game and draft after the announcement that Atlanta will no longer be the host in protest of a new voting law.
MLB TO MOVE ALL-STAR GAME AND DRAFT OUT OF GEORGIA IN VOTING LAW PROTEST
“Hey @MLB — feel free to give us a call,” the Democratic governor said in a tweet shortly after the announcement was made on Friday. “In California we actually work to expand voter access — not prevent it.”
Hey @MLB — feel free to give us a call.
In California we actually work to expand voter access — not prevent it.https://t.co/FTeI4AjPaC
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) April 2, 2021
California is home to five MLB teams, including the San Francisco Giants, the Oakland Athletics, the Los Angeles Angels, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the San Diego Padres.
MLB said its decision was made in objection to Georgia’s voting bill, signed by Gov. Brian Kemp last week, which creates a voter ID requirement for absentee voting and shortens the window for when mail-in ballots will be accepted, among other changes. Democrats have argued that these restrictions create an undue burden on people of color and low-income communities in their efforts to vote.
The league did not immediately announce a new location.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred Jr. said the decision to relocate came after “thoughtful conversations” with clubs, the Players Association, and the Players Alliance. He said moving the events is “the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport.”
The 2022 All-Star Game is currently scheduled to take place at Dodger Stadium. A source for ESPN said that the plans for 2022 will not be moved up to this year.
