Gavin Newsom and rivals John Cox, Kevin Faulconer join together to receive Johnson & Johnson vaccine

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – On the same day that all Californians age 50 and older became eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Gavin Newsom joined with Republican rivals John Cox and Kevin Faulconer to get vaccinated Thursday in San Francisco.

Despite their political differences over government-mandated shutdowns, Newsom and the two gubernatorial hopefuls marked the day to stress the importance of vaccines during a rare bipartisan effort.

Both Cox and Faulconer have mounted campaigns to replace Newsom as governor, potentially in a recall election later this year.

“We in the state of California have committed to what no other state in the country had, 40% of all our doses over the course of the last few weeks overlaid with an equity frame, an equity index that we’re utilizing, census track, neighborhood by neighborhood, zip code by zip code, making a determination that we need to do more and do better,” Newsom told reporters. “Despite our political differences, getting vaccinated is something we all agree on.”

Beginning Thursday, everyone in California age 50 and older is eligible to get the COVID-19.

Following the press event, the three travelled north to lunch together at the French Laundry.